The Flame- The Story of Lua

THE FLAME

l?J WILLIAM SEARS and ROBERT QUIGLEY

GEORGE RONALD OXFORD First published in 1972 by George Ronald 46 High Street, Kidlington, Oxford, England

Printed in Great Britain by Richard Clay (The Chaucer Press), Ltd., Bungay, Suffolk Contents Foreword

Part I I'fI-IE SEARCH I. The Three Questions 10 2. Like MotIler, Like Daughter 10 3. God Is Everybody's Business 13 4. Chicago Is Not Broadway 18 5. The Flame Is I<indled 21 6. Return Home: The Precious Gift 23 Part II IN THE HOLY LAND 7. Lua Arrives in the I-Ioly Land 30 8. Lua Meets the Master 32 9. A I...Ietter from Lua 36 10 •. 'Abdu'l-Baha, Father of the Poor 40 I I. 'Follo\v ~fe; be as I am' 44 12. The First 11artyr for \Y/omen's Rights 46 13. Lua Leaves the Master: From Sunlight into Darkness 50

Part III THE \VEST AIDS THE EAST 14. The \vest Shall Replace the East 54 15. The Bab and Baha'u'lhih: The Dawn and the Sun 57 16. The Flame Begins to Burn l\1ore Brightly 62 17. Lua's l\iission to the I<ing 66

Part IV HERALD OF THE COVENANT 18. 'Abdu'l-Baha Arrives in r\merica 72 19. Lua and the lVfaster l\feet .i\gain 77 20. Lua's Schemes Go Astray 82 2. I. The Faith Is Established in America 84 22. From the Holy Land to the Golden Gate 89 2. 3. ./1. Standing Ovation for the Herald of Peace 91 24. The Flame Ignites Many Fires 95 2. 5. 'I appoint you, Lua, as a Herald of the Covenant I' 99 26. Nlother-teacher of the West 102 27. 'Oh, Baha'u'llahI \X'hat hast Thou done?' 105 2.8. Fare"\vell to America 107

Part V IN !-11S FOOTSTEPS 2.9. The Flame Spreads to Other Lands I 12 30. Following in His Footsteps 114 3I. Lua Sees the NIaster for the Last Time 120 32. \Var Encircles the Flame 123 33. The Angel of Death 12.7 34. 'Lua, who shall live through all the ages' 131 35. A Martyr's Crown 134

A Final Tribute 138 LUA MOORE GETSINGER

born NOVeJJlber Ist, I8JI-died lYlay Ist, I9I6 'Mother-teacher of the American Baha'i Community' Foreword This tribute to the 'immortal Lua' has been written by two fellow-Americans \vho were privileged to visit her place of burial beside the Nile river in Egypt many years after her death. Lua was given the title: 'The Banner!' She was the very first to plant the flag of the Baha'i Faith in many parts of the West; eventually, of the world. Lua inspired thousands, in more than one generation, to take up the task after her. She gave her life in the process. This is not an attempt to tell a complete and definitive story of so rich a life. Future historians will gather the full treasure from every source, and only then will there be a fitting description of this courageous and beautiful woman \-vho ,\vas so loved and respected for her service to humanity on three continents. These are but a fe\v episodes taken from her life, but they sho\v plainly why she will come to be known in the future as one of the outstanding women of this age. This account has been taken from magazines, newspaper articles, letters, books, in 1JJcmoriam columns, and from personal interviews with those who knew her. It cannot stand as a completely accurate story of that precious life inasmuch as too much time has passed, too few records have been kept, too many doors ,\vere closed to us, and too many memories are lost to total recall. Yet, even those who could not remember the words Lua spoke, never forgot the music of her presence. 'There was something about her,' they said. 'Something special.' They might have forgotten the details of many incidents, but they always recalled vividly the atmosphere that surrounded Lua. Their eyes glistened as they spoke of the tremendous impact Lua had upon those who met her. There are now Baha'is in over fifty thousand centres in all parts of the world. National Baha'i Assemblies represent more than three hundred countries, territories, islands and dominions. It is tragic that after nearly a century the people of the West should still be uninformed about this astonishing woman, and equally regrettable that countless numbers of new Baha'is have not yet heard of the 'immortal Lua', although they may have been given the 'breath of life' by one of her 'children'. It is to remedy this lack that we have recaptured here the excitement of her beginning days. May these brief eye-witness accounts of her contemporaries, these excerpts from her own correspondence, once again bring to life for you this 'flame of God'. Although a major part of the story comes from official records and books, still this account will have to remain mostly in that category known as pilgrims' notes. Even so, it is our hope that you will find in these pages some of the throbbing joy, wonder and awe which filled the hearts of those who met her in person. WILLIA1f SEARS ROBERT QUIGLEY Part I

THE SEARCH I. The Three Questions He looked at Lua. His eyes were filled \vitl1 tender love. 'What will you do if they persecute you ?' 'I shall know that it is a heavenly gift, and that the love of God is descending upon me.' 'And what \vill you do if they put you into prison ?' 'I shall thank God that I have been permitted to follow in the footsteps of my beloved Master.' Lua's beautiful face glo\ved with compassion. '1 shall tllen be s11aring but a small portion of your suffering.' 'And if they kill you?' She did not hesitate. 'I shall know that the very first wish I ever asked of you has been granted, and I have been privileged to give my life that men may hear the \vord of God.'

2. Like Mother, Like Dauglzter Across the deep green meadows, the happy musical laugh of the little girl could be heard by her father as he drew a dipper of "vater from the pump. He watched his daughter Lua go racing barefoot through the grass, carrying on a gay conversation with her friends the animals as she fled swiftly past them. Her father shook his head wonderingly. He sighed, 'She's just like her mother.' There was something strange and wonderful about them both. Something just beyond his reach. He didn't understand it. Still, he could tell from the way they would at times smile at each other that they understood it. It didn't really matter, he told himself, because he loved them both so very much. Both Lua and her mother were born in rural upstate New York in the village of Hume. Both shared an outer life of delight in the farm with its green fields and gro"ving things, but an inner life of unrest and dissatisfaction. There was no one to answer their questions. They hungered for knowledge of every kind, especially knowledge of God and His creation, but each cup seemed to be empty. It all began with Lua's mother. Ellen McBride Moore imbibed these ideas with her mother's milk. She "vas but five when the call for the first woman's rights convention in all history was made in that same upper New York at Seneca Falls. Change was in the air. Ellen McBride Moore was born in 1843. It was the year of the great comet. All eyes stared up at the night skies searching the heavens in fear of the great fiery tail millions of miles long. Some said it heralded the end of the world. It was all part of a period of strange, growing millennial zeal. Bible scholars in three continents said their studies of scripture pointed to the imminent return of Christ. People in the United States, Canada, England, Europe, even in Asia, were discussing and debating the issue in great II detail. Many confidently expected to see Him 'coming in the clouds of heaven' as He had promised. Some even sold their possessions, prepared ascension robes, and went up into the mountains to await Christ's coming.

In the nearby rolling hills \vhere New York and Pennsylvania meet, Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon Faith, had had his vision of a great new day coming. He was to give his life for these beliefs in 1844, a year after Lua's mother was born. Farther along these same Pennsylvania hills, William Miller and his flock had organized entire communities who were prepared for the coming of Jesus, the Christ. They finally decided this Event would take place in spring, 1844. Lua's childhood was filled with such tales of wonder and awe. Her mother, Ellen McBride Moore, grew up with a great unquenched thirst to know the truth about those days. Wl1y had Christ failed to return as everyone expected? Or had He come, and had everyone missed Him this time, too, as they did the first time? Had Christ fooled them all, and come as He promised 'like a thief in the night' ? Without anyone recognizing Him? Was He perhaps living on the earth no\v? \Vhat an exciting thought! But if so, where was He?

No one gave a satisfactory answer to these questions when Lua's mother asked them. Many became impatient with her. They told her not to 'tamper' with these mysteries. Ellen McBride Moore felt that for every good question there should be a good answer. Her intense curiosity was often a source of acute distress to her family and her friends. Her husband and her minister especially felt the sting of her probing mind. During the days when Mrs Moore carried Lua in her womb, her thirst for knowledge was directed towards religion. She wanted to know the truth about God and His Messengers, about man, about the Bible, about the soul, about everything connected with religion. Her zeal had reached its peak. At every opportunity, whether at home, in public, or in church, Lua's mother would speak out. She was frank and she was fearless. She demanded answers to her questions. It is also suspected that she was a bit of a nuisance. Especially to her minister. There were a lot of her questions to which he, himself, would have liked a better answer. But he knew better than to ask such things during church service. One day it reached a crisis.

3. God Is Everybody's Buslness There was a knock on the door. Mr Moore admitted the minister of their local church. Both were embarrassed. Both knew why he was there. '1 have come to solicit your help,' the clergyman said. He entered the house in a state of annoyance. He was distressed when he sa\v that Lua's mother was present. 'Mr tfoore,' he began, 'the last thing I want to do is complain about your wife. She's a fine woman. But I'll come right to the point. She must stop asking so many questions. Especially in the Bible Class. It's disturbing. Most disturbing to the other people.' Obviously it was disturbing to the country parson as well. Mr Moore shrugged his shoulders. He was sympathetic. God knows, he too had felt the frustration of trying to satisfy his wife's constant hunger for knowledge about things of the spirit. 'What do you suggest?' he asked. 'There are some things that just can't be answered,' the clergyman said patiently. 'I know,' Mr ~foore sighed. 'I kno"\v. It disturbs me, too. She asks me the same questions. What can I tell her? I'm only a farmer. When she asks, "How is it possible to explain the Bible where it says that Christ \vill come down in a cloud? Everyone knows that scientifically clouds are vapours that rise up from the earth. They don't come down. Is the Bible \vrong?" What can I tell her? I don't know myself.' The clergyman was impatient. 'It's a pity that our women become involved in these new-fangled ideas.' 'Perhaps,' Mr 1100re said. 'But my \vife feels that God is everybody's business, not just the men's. So that kind of ans"\ver will never satisfy her.' Lua's father would have been much happier furrowing a field behind his team than talking about God and the Bible, but now that the parson was here, perhaps this was his cl1ance. A minister should know the answers. 'Tell me,' he asked, 'when the Bible says that all eyes shall see Christ when He comes down from heaven, my wife wants to know h01JJ? How will they all see Him? She says that with the curvature of the earth it \vould take Christ hundreds and hundreds of thousands of solo descents before He could get around to everybody in the vl0rld. Mind you, those are her ideas, not mine. But how can I answer that ?' 'There are some things that are very difficult to answer.' 'Especially difficult questions.' 'Many of these things must be taken on faith.' Ellen 11cBride Moore could remain quiet no longer. She couldn't resist putting in her own two cents' worth. After all, they were her questions. 'What about Christ wal1~rJng on the water? What about all the dead coming out of their graves on the day of Resurrection? Where will we have room for them all?' 'Those,' the minister replied, speaking strictly to Lua's father, 'are exactly the sort of questions that your wife shouldn't ask in public.' 'Why not? If we've got good answers ?' 'They cause unrest in the congregation. Answers that satisfy one person don't satisfy another.' 'None of them satisfies my wife apparently.' Lua's mother held her tongue, and with great difficulty sat quietly through the rest of the conversation. She sighed. If they insisted that she remain silent she would obey. But they couldn't stop her from thinking. And she thought to herself that if Christ had returned and if she knew where to find Him, at least He wouldn't make excuses. He would be able to answer her questions.

The following Sunday was almost unbearable to her. Question after question sprang unasked to her lips. If the rest of the congregation knew as little as she did about all these things, how could they be so satisfied. Yet, everyone else seemed perfectly content. They smiled and nodded as the minister spoke. She felt there must be something wrong with her, but the more the minister preached, the more questions Lua's mother had about everything he was saying. Only his fierce frown from time to time kept her silent. She wanted to shout out her doubts. Were there really three Persons in the Trinity? Why were there so many different religions in the first place? Why was mankind repeatedly plagued with the ruin of war? Didn't God have some plan to end the differences and prejudice among races? Was it right for some to be so terribly rich and some so terribly poor, and be neighbours? Why couldn't the world have peace? Were all foreigners really dangerous? Why shouldn't everyone love the whole world and not only his own native land? Why? Why? Why? Why? Lua's mother kept her peace, but her heart was filled with anguish and sorrow. She didn't care if they ever became wealthy, all she wanted was the answers to her questions. She was sure that knowledge was the real wealth. In her agony of spirit, Ellen McBride Moore prayed fervently to Almighty God: 'If this child I am carrying in my womb is a girl, may she be given the chance to speak out and know the truth that has been so long denied to me, her mother.' Her prayer was answered. At least the first part of her prayer. The child was a girl. She \vas named Lua. Lua Moore \vas born on November 1st, 1871, the same day on which her father had been born and her parents married.

Her sister gives the following description of Lua during those early days: 'Lua had lovely reddish brown hair. It fell in waves about her face, and was so long she could sit on it. Her skin was fair. Her eyes were large and blue. She was as straight and slender as a \vhite birch.' Lua's education was the regular public school one. From the beginning, her sister said, Lua's teachers realized that they \vere dealing wit11 a gifted child. Many an afternoon Lua spent together after school with her teacher learning more than the regular class could give her. She had an unusual eloquence that stirred her listeners even as a child. Her singing voice was sweet and true as well. Even in childhood there was a quality of the Lorelei about her that held a promise of some sweet distant mystery. Lua grew more beautiful, eloquent and talented with the passing years. She was soon in need of a greater teacher. Lua's mother was urged to send her to some place where tl10se rare talents could be properly developed. Eventually Lua's beautiful singing voice and natural gift for the theatre dre"\v her to Chicago to study dramatic art. Her friends were puzzled. They \vondered why, "\vith her great gifts, Lua preferred Chicago to New Yark. There was far more opportunity for a dramatic future in Ne"v York, they told her. After all, Broadway "vas in New York, not Chicago. Lua herself admitted that she really didn't know \vhy she chose Chicago. She thought of going to New York, but each time she did, some inner force drew her to Chicago. Lua couldn't resist it. Lua's lifetime was to be filled with these strange inner promptings of the spirit. Lua invariably felt herself powerless to disobey them. Her friends laughingly ridiculed "vhat they called Lua's peculiar 'hunches'. Lua insisted that they were not 'hunches'. They were some sort of guidance, she said, and she was not able to help herself. Lua never knew where these inner compulsions would lead, but she had to follow. One of the strongest she had ever experienced led her to Chicago.

4. Chicago Is Not Broadway In Chicago Lua soon outgrew her teachers. This was to be her fate throughout life. Nothing seemed able to quench her thirst for greater skill and more knowledge. Her restless spirit drove her on and on, IS always seeking something she could not find, winning new triumphs but soon finding them empty. Gradually Lua realized that no career, however triumphant, would ever satisfy her. Her inner promptings told that her destiny lay in another direction, in the realm of the spirit. She suspected that her life was never to be one of outward \vealth, fame, comfort and security. Lua's entire life became a tnodern search for the Holy Grail. Lua went fron1 church to c11urch, still seeking answers to those questions \vhich her mother had planted in her heart so long ago. Like her mother, Lua always left empty-handed. Group after group disappointed her. She found these societies, movements and cults to be the n1ere shadovv of reality. But the greater her disappointment, the greater became her hunger, and the more ardent became her search.

Lua \vas only twenty-two years old \vhen the famous World's Fair began in Chicago in 1893. It was on that occasion that the \Vorld's Parliament of Religion \vas assembled and the first \vord came to the \YJestern world about a \vonderful ne\v Faith which had arisen in the East. A paper \vritten by a Christian clergyman, Dr Henry H. Jessup of Beirut, \vas read. It said, in part, that 'just outside the Fortress of 'Akka, on the Syrian coast, there died a few months since, a famous Persian sage... named Baha'u'lhih-the "Glory of God" ... [He] gave utterance to sentiments so noble, so Christlike, that we repeat them as our closing words: , "That all nations should become one in faith and all men as brothers; that the bond of affection and unity between the sons of men should be strengthened; that diversity of religions should cease and differences of race be annulled. Wllat harm is t11ere in this ? Yet so it shall be. These frultless strifes, these ruinous ,vars shall pass a,\vay, and 'the ~1ost Great Peace' shall come . . . I . et not a man glory in this, that he loves his country; let him rather glory in this, that he loves his kind." , \Vhile this was taking place at the Parliament of Religion, Lua in the quiet of her room was praying to Almighty God: 'Please help me to find the truth at last.' Lua knew that some 'inner prompting' had led her to Chicago. She felt this force gro\.ving within her. Every impulse of her being was intensified. Lua \vas confident that some\vhere, somehow, both her prayer and her mother's \vould soon be fulfilled. While reading the ne\vspaper, Lua came upon the story about the \Vorld's Parliament of Religion. In that article, l1er eyes fell for the first time upon the name of Baha'll'llah, the Founder of the Baha'i Faith. It was to be a day of even greater \vonders for Lua. She felt an irresistible urge to visit a friend whose brother \vas a professor. While Lua was there another guest arrived. Her 110st had met this stranger that very day. As they chatted, the professor had become impressed \vith the stranger's knowledge of the Near East. Suddenly, almost against his will, the professor told them, he had invited this stranger, a Persian, home for dinner. The evening passed all too quickly as they discussed subject after subject. Then just before it ended, Lua found herself speaking to the stranger quite suddenly and spontaneously. 'Do you know of the Persian, Baha'u'lhih, and His Faith which was mentioned at the World's Parliament of Religion ?' There was a long silent moment. The stranger looked at Lua, smiled as though he had been anticipating the question and said: 'I am a follower of Baha'u'llah.'

5. The Flame Is Klndled Lua could learn no more that first night. The questions she did ask had all been ansvvered with a simplicity and clarity which set her on fire. Lua could hardly contain her excitement and eagerness. The stranger asked Lua to be patient. He assured Lua that the day would come when she would learn more about this new Faith, and would have the answers to all her questions. Lua returned to her room exhilarated. She couldn't bear to wait. She was crushed when he refused to tell her any more that first night. But it was a wonderful beginning, and it carried her to new heights. Lua prayed all that night and again the next morning. Always in her thoughts "\vere those inspiring \vords of Baha'u'lhih : 'All nations should become one in Faith.' A stab-like thrill went through her body. If only her mother \V"'ere here to share the greatness of this day. Lua said that instinctively she felt certain that this was the day the whole world had been waiting for, the day of the 'one fold and one shepl1erd', the day of 'the Kingdom of God on earth'. Lua was confident that she \vas nearing the end of her search. She breathed a prayer: '0 Almighty God, make this be the end of my search. Do not let this cup be empty! Don't make my eager heart \vait any longer.' Lua's reverie was interrupted by a knock at the door. It \vas a dear friend, 11adame Nlaartens. She had come to Lua wit11 great ne\vs. Madame Maartens herself tells ho\v she came to Lua that day full of enthusiasm: 'Lua,' she said, 'I have found a \vonderful new religion. I think it is exactly \vhat you have been searching for.' Lua was grateful, but she was not to be deflected from her own exciting discovery. She told Madame Maartens that she had made an exciting discovery of her own. Lua refused to be side-tracked. Perhaps there might be a message from the stranger at any time. Madame Maartens was insistent. 'There's a meeting this very night,' she told Lua. 'Please come and see for yourself.' Lua was impatient, but lviadame Maartens was such a kindly ,voman and had befriended her in that 22. lonely city; so Lua hid her disappointment and ,vent to the meeting. When she was introduced to the teacher, Lua's heart knotted in a brief spasm. There standing before her was the stranger I Never was a heart so full of joy.

6. Return ROlne: TIle Precious Gift During the "veeks of intensive study that followed, Lua was always among the first to arrive at the meetings and the last to leave. To her joy and delight, she discovered that already there were follo\vers of Baha'u'llah in America. They \vere called Baha'is. She \vas told that Baha'i meant 'follo\,ver of Baha'u'llah' just as Christian meant 'follower of Christ'. The Name Baha'u'llah \vhen translated into English, Lua discovered, meant 'the glory of the Lord' or 'the glory of God'. The \",\Torld Centre of the Baha'i Faith \vas in the Holy Land on tlle very spot \vhich Isaial1 had prophesied \vould see 'the glory of God'. What days of excitement they \vere! Question after question was answered : Yes, Baha'u'llih is the return of Christ. Yes, lIe has fulfilled all the prophecies of the Bible. Yes, His followers believe in prayer and the immortality of the human soul. Yes, all the races are equal, one before God. Yes, yes, yes-ans\vers to all those questions l1er mother asked \vhile Lua \vas still a child in her \vomb. Gradually, all her doubts were removed. Lua was carried aloft to new heights by the wholesome Teachings of Baha'u'llah. Each night in her . room she would review the lesson, ti.me and agam. Although Baha'u'llah had written over one hundred volumes, none of these \vas available yet in America; so it was necessary for Lua to memorize the \vonderful words of His Faith. She repeated them over and over until His thrilling Teachings became a part of her being: 'There is but one God and one religion. 1tfoses, Christ, Mul).ammad, Baha'u'llah, all the great Prophets and Messengers of God have taught the one same truth. We are all the leaves of one tree and the drops of one ocean. Though the Speakers are many, the Word is One.' 'Prejudice of all kinds must be forever abandoned, and all men live as brothers. All men, whatever their country, creed or colour, are the children of one Father, God.' 'The best beloved of all things in My sight is Justice.'

During those early days Lua had the Teachings of Baha'u'llah engraved on her mind. She absorbed every word, always seeking more understanding. This truth had struck her like a mighty thunderbolt. It had captured her soul. As the months went by, the inevitable happened. Lua once again eclipsed her teacher. Her insistent demands for further information about this glorious Message were redoubled. Lua's intense longing craved for more nourishment than any teacher could supply. Her thirst for knowledge was too great to be quenched at a mountain stream, her spirit cried out for the ocean. Lua was told that there was a wonderful man in the Holy Land, the Son of Baha'u'llah. His name was 'Abdu'l-Baha. He \vas the Source to \vhich she could turn. '.l\ bdu'l-Baha, she \vas told, 'Nould be able to answer all the rest of her questions. Lua \vas filled with inner serenity and happiness. This time she kne\v there \vould be no disappointment. She was being led to the fountain-head of this spiritual truth. If only she could reach Him! Lua knew in her heart that her long quest \vas ended. S11e thought at once of her mother, the courageous Ellen McBride Moore, who had sent her out on tIle sea of search. Lua knew that she must share this priceless treasure \vith her.

Lua left immediately for her farm home in upper Ne\v y'" ork, her face glowing with the Glad Tidings. Her family recognized at once that Lua's radiance came fron1 some inner secret '\vhich she could hardly contain. The '\vords of her sister best describe that magical night \vhen Lua told them the '\vonderful story of her discovery. 'One moonlight night, Lua, ~fother, another of my sisters and myself went into the parlour. Whenever any momentous decisions were to be made in the 1tfoore family, they were alvvays made in the parlour. 'We were all breathless with excitement. Lua's 2.5 letters from Chicago had been full of hidden hints and suggestions of wonderful things to come. She had refused to tell us by mail. She had piqued our curiosity until it was at fever pitch. Now she was with us to tell us what had made her so radiant and ethereal.' In the stillness of that room where so many questions had remained unans\vered for such a long time, Lua recited a prayer. The \vords were ne\v and \vonderfuI. The very atmosphere \vas charged \vith anticipation. Lua's mother follo\ved every gesture \vith her eyes. Slo\vly Lua began to speak. She became more animated and excited as she \vent along. Her face shone with a \vonderful light. She told her family many of the unforgettable things she l1ad discov"ered about the Baha'i Faith: l"1hi5 was the 'last day' foretold by Jesus. This \vas the day of the coming of the Promise of All Ages. Little by little, one at a time, she ans"\vered those questions which her mother had asked during those long-ago days when a 'millennial zeal' had been s\veeping their countryside. Lua could read both the question and the hope in her mother's eyes, 'If only it could be true l' Then, almost as if in answer to her mother's unasked question, Lua looked at her \vitIl a smile of joy and rapture. It vIas one of those 'exchanged glances' from her childhood "\vhich had been their special link \vith each other. Her mother's heart leaped. 'It is true,' Lua said. 'Christ has returned.' Lua's sister, who later shared with Lua many thrilling moments of victorious teaching, has said, 'It is impossible to describe the feeling of \vonder that evening, and the excitement Lua's '\vords generated in our hearts.' Lua looked at them, ller face radiating such beauty, such poignancy, such happiness, that they knew she was lost to them forever. Her delight in the future would lie in her service to her new-found family, mankind. There ,\vas a s,\veet sorro\v in her enraptured countenance that spoke of suffering mingled with joy. 'Even no,\v, as \ve talk here together,' Lua exclaimed, 'there are followers of this Faith in many parts of the \vorld building the Christ-promised Kingdom of God on earth.' She embraced her mother and her sisters, hugging them to her heart. 'I,' Lua told them, 'would give my life to be one of them.' Part II

IN THE HOLY LAND 7. Lua Arrives in the Holy Land Lua remained with her family long enough to prove to them beyond a shado"\v of a doubt that, incredible as her announcement appeared, it was indeed the truth. Lua cited proof after proof from both the Old and New Testaments. She showed them prophecies in these holy Books which demonstrated clearly that Baha'u'llih was undoubtedly the Return of Christ. He was the 'Son' returned in the 'glory of the Father'. Lua reminded her mother of those years immediately after her birth, when Christians all over the world had awaited the appearance of Christ, for 1844 was the year of the greatest expectancy. This very year, Lua told them, was the year of the beginning of the Baha'i Faith. In moments like these Lua's face would be transformed. She was like a visitor from another kingdom. She was but twenty-three years old when she became a follower of Baha'u'llah. She never seemed to age. Her spirit ","'as a flame of youth, always burning with the same brilliant light. In the words of Juliet Thompson, one of Lua's dearest friends: 'She al\.vays seemed to me to have flown do"\vn out of the nowhere of the sky and lit on earth for just a little \vhile for the sole purpose of heralding her Lord.' Lua's long-pent-up eloquence 110\V had a channel for release. She became afiarrle \vith the 1fessage of Baha' u'11ah. Lua sct out on her teaching journeys, travelling from coast to coast in .1\merlca. t-fhese \vere but a prelude to the \~isits she ".vould 1nake to the continents of the earth, ne\7Tr setting dcnvn her burden until the last hours of her life. No \vonder Lua \vas ablaze. lIer entire life had been a prepar3.tion for this hour. She had been recreated. l)uring her travels, her glo\-ving spirit set many other souls on fire \yit11 the same enthusiasm. She attracted Jevls, Christians, 1vIuslims, even sceptics and atheists to this universal religion. An10ng those she taught, some \vere to become the most famous of the early l1croes and heroines of the Baha'i I~aith. On one of her journeys, Lua helped the wife of a fan10us An1erican Senator to embrace the Faith. Phoebe I-Iearst shared tiua's enthusiasm. Lua kindled a great desire in lYfrs Hearst to go to the I-Ioly Land and nlcet 'Abdu'l-Baha. TIley all longed to visit the scene \vhere these \vonders had taken place and see thern \vith their o\vn eyes. What a bounty and privilege it \vould be to \valk in those places \\7here Baha'u'lhih \valked; to go to the prison-city of 'Akka, that sacred spot spoken of in Scripture by the prophet I-Iosea \vho said it \vould be given to man as 'a door of hope'. Above all, they would be able to see and talk with Baha'u'lhih's eldest son, 'Abdu'l-Baha, \X7ho had shared I-lis Father's exile and imprisonnlent for forty years. 'Abdu'l-Baha \vas alive! He could be seen! He still lived in that same prison-city and \vas loved by all. He was known as 'The NIaster', a title given Him by His Father. They \vould be able to hear from His o\vn lips the answers to their questions. He \vould tell them ho\v they could best serve God in this day. t'fhey \vould see and talk wit11 the Person to Whom Baha'u'llah said all mankind should turn if they sougllt truth and guidance. It \vould be a holy pilgrimage. No sacrifice could be too great. They made plans to leave as soon as possible. We can only imagine the excitement Lua experienced during these days of preparation. Several other Baha'is \vere invited to join them. In Paris a fe\v more were added to the party. Among them \vas the illustrious lYfay (Ellis Bolles) Maxwell \Vh01TI Lua herself had won over to the Faith. Lua's hllsband, Edward Getsinger, also accompanied the party. In Egypt a fe\v others joined the group. Finally, the pilgrims numbered fifteen. Because of the danger \vhich still surrounded 'Abdu'l-Baha, as a Prisoner and an Exile, they arrived gradually in three successive parties. Lua was in the very first group. She reached the prison-city on December loth, 1898.

8. Lua Meets the Master It was truly an 'historic' pilgrimage upon which Lua had launched them. None of them would ever be the same. Little did that handful of believers dream of the significance of their journey and the world-wide consequences \vhich would follo\v their entry into the prison-city of 'j\kki. They \vere the first of a long line of pilgrims who \vould come in a ceaseless flo\v from all parts of the \vorld, even do\vn to the present day. Only t\VO World \vars could interrupt this constant, and ever-increasing, movement of visitors to the Bahi'i World Centre. Those first, unique pilgrims "vere forced to arrive in small numbers, and at irregular intervals, because they, like their beloved Master, 'Abdu'l- Baha, ,\vere in effect 'prisoners' themselves \vhen they ,\vere "\vith Hi!n. 'Abdu'l-Baha explained to pilgrims, \vho came eight years later, a truth that \vas even more applicable to Lua and her companions. 'This is a prison,' 'Abdu'l-Baha said, 'and in prison one cannot find rest. \-xrhatever it may be, this is a prison and you \vill stay son1e days in this prison \vith us, and you will be counted as . prIsoners. 'In fact, you are my con1panions in servitude to the \vorld, and you are in prison as I alTI, and in everything \ve are partners.' No words could bring greater l1appiness to the heart of a pilgrim. Imagine the joy of sharing, even on that pitifully small scale, the sorro\vs and imprisonment of 'Abdu'l-Baha. When Lua and her friends met 'Abdu'l-Baha for the first time, their \vorld became another world. All that had happened to them in the past \vas of no consequence. This was the moment of their rebirth. Later they "\V~ould perform acts \vhich ,\vollld astound the Baha'is of both East and \,lest. In concert \vith their fellow-believers [raIn other countries, the spiritual children of these early Baha'is \vould settle in more than one hundred countries in eleven tTIonths, and plant the banner of Baha'u'llah in over fifty thousand places on the surface of the planet. Only future historians \vill be able to adequately recount and properly assess the value of that matchless first pilgrimage, and its impact upon the history of the Baha'i I~aitll and the fate of the \~vorld.

The days \vhich those first pilgrliTIs spent in the prison-city of 'Akki \vere precious 1110n1cnts they \vould treasure all their lives. In this vicinity, Baha'u'lhih spent nearly a quarter of a century as a Prisoner and an Exile. So foul was the atmosphere, so unsanitary and disease-·ridden, that a proverb declared: 'If a bird flies over 'Akka, it dies l' Yet in that unfragrant place these first pilgrims experienced nothing but happiness. ~rhey \vere prisoners \vhere Baha'u'llah and 'l\bdu'l-Baha had been I)risoners. 1"ihey \vere surrounded by love eaell step of the way. 11ay 11axwell, Lua's dear friend, recalled their first visit to 'Abdu'l-Baha in these words: 'During the three wonderful days and nigbts we spent in that sacred spot \ve heard naught but the mention of G-od; His 1-Ioly Name was on every tongue; 1-1is beauty and goodness were the theme of all conversation; His Glorious Cause [the Baha'i Faith] the only aim of every life. Whenever we gathered together in one of the rootns they spoke unceasingly of the Blessed Perfection [Baha'u'llah], relating incidents in the life of the Beloved, mentioning His \17ords, telling of I-lis deeds and the passionate love and devotion of His follo"\vers until our hearts ached vvith love and longing.' 'Abdu'l-Baha told the pilgrims not to be sad because He "\vas a Prisoner. 'Anyone can be happy in the state of comfort, ease, success, health, pleasure and joy,' He said, 'but if one be happy and contented in the time of trouble, hardship and prevailing disease, that is the proof of nobility.' This \-vas the lesson '.t\bdu'l-Baha taught these pilgrims. 'Grieve not because of 1ny imprisonment and calamity,' He ,\vrote, 'for this prison is my beautiful garden, my mansioned paradise and my throne of dominion among mankind.' Lua and her fellow pilgrims learned many a lesson at 'Abdu'l-Baha's feet. His personal "\vants were few. He worked from early morning to late at night. Two simple meals a day were sufficient for Him. His \vardrobe held only a fe'vv garments of inexpensive material. 'Abdu'l-Baha could not bear to live in luxury \vhile others \vere in "\vant. One of Lua's conten1poraries has described those days of pilgrimage, saying: 'To 'Abdu'l-Baha, as a teacher and friend, came men and women from every race, religion and nation, to sit at his table like favored guests, questioning him about the social, spiritual or moral program each had most at heart, and after a stay lasting fronl a fe\v hours to n1any rnonths, returning home, inspired, renewed and enlightened. The \vorld surely never possessed such a guest-house as this. 'Within these doors the rigid castes of India melted a\vay, the racial prejudice of ]e\v, Christian and 11uhammadan became less than a melnory; and every convention save the essentialla\v of ,varm hearts and aspiring minds broke down, banned and forbidden by the unifying sympathy of the master of the house. It \vas like a I(ing i\rthur and the Round Table ... but an _A.rtl1ur \v11o knighted \vornen as well as n1en, and sent them a\vay not \-vith the s\vord but \vith the Word.' Such was Lua \vho \vas to become the 'motherteacher of the \X'est' and a 'herald' of that ne\v day '" soon to dawn in America. 'Abdu'l-Baha gave her the Persian title, I~iva, the Banner. She would wave the flag of the Covenant in many lands.

9. A Letter from Lua Lua herself has left an account of her first lneeting with 'Abdu'l-Baha. It is best told in her o\vn \vords in a letter \vhich she sent to i\merica: 'To my friends in Chicago, Greetings! 'We reached Haifa, Thursday, December 9th,* about 10.30 p.m. and ,,,ere met by three of the Baha'is. WTe slept but little that night. Our minds were occupied \vith the thought that perhaps tomorrow we shall see our beloved Master, 'Abdu'l- Baha. We arose early the next morning, our hearts eagerly expectant, but all day no word came. In the evening a letter came stating that He would be pleased to welcome us 011 the nlorrow and that "His heart longed to see the first American pilgrims" . 'As you tnay imagine, sleep \vas out of the question that night as well. The hours passed much too slowly until the dawn of the morrow should come. I arose early, dressing myself vlith much care, feeling the best I had was not half good enough to wear upon this first visit to the Holy City. Shortly after eight o'clock, the carriage drove us to the dwelling place of our Gracious Master. 'It is about five miles * from Haifa to 'Akka along the road to the sea. Indeed the road is in the sea, for the horses were walking in the water and at times the waves dashed nearly to the top of the wheels. After riding for about a quarter of an hour we could see the city in the distance. It was a beautiful morning, and as we looked we could but think of a description in the Dible, "A city all of gold beside the crystal sea." It was bathed in a flood of golden sunshine and the sea splashing up against its walls sparkled with splendorl 'We gradually approached nearer and nearer until at last we entered the city by its solitary gate and drove straight to the house of 'Abdu'l-Baha. 'We entered the garden, ascended one flight of stairs and were shown into a hall, or reception room, where we removed our wraps. By the violent beating of my heart, I kne\\T I was soon to behold the Blessed Face of our Beloved Master. \Ve * More nearly nine miles. reached the door and stopped. Before us, in the center of the room, stood a man clad in long railnent, -vvith a "\vhitc turban 01111i8 head. I-Ie stretched out I-lis hand to us while .fIis face -vvas lighted by a rare s\veet slnile of joy and "\velcorne. I stood there for a moment unable to move. Then my heart gave a great throb, and scarcely kno\ving "That I ,vas doing, I held out my arms crying, "IVfy I..ord, 11y I...Iord 1" I rushed to Him, kneeling at Ilis blessed feet, and sobbed like a child. He put His dear hand A

upon lny bowed head and said in a voice that seemed like a strain of s\veet music, "\\7elcome, \velcome, my dear children, you are \velcome; arise and be of good cheer." Then He sat do\vn upon a lo\v divan, and I sat on one side almost facing Him. Then He began to talk to us . . . 'So s\viftly did the time pass that we ,vere quite astonished vlhen dinner \vas announced ... 'I-Ie seated rne on. I-lis right. I felt too happy to eat and sat \vith my eyes riveted upon His glorious face. He turned to\vard me and s\veetly smiling, i said, "1 he love of God burning in your heart is manifested upon your face and it gives us joy to look upon you." 'Later that night, I-Ie came again. One of the friends asked permission to sit near Ifinl, Vvhich Vias granted. After a moment }Ie turned to\\'ard me, smiled, and \vaved His hand that I also might C01ne. I sat down at I-lis blessed feet \vhile I-Ie took mv J

hand, looking do\vn upon me tenderly as a loving father. He sat and conversed \vith us for nearly an hour. T1hen He arose and 'wished us good night, blessing us, and we all retired. '1 couldn't sleep. My heart was too full. 1 was t90 infinitely happy. I could only live over and over again the precious moments I had spent in His presence and longed to see Him once more. I fell into a sweet sleep just as morning was break- . lng. 'That evening He sat us all at the table and dismissed the servants saying He would serve us Himself. He did not sit at the table with us, but waited upon us. At the conclusion of the meal, He said, "I have served you tonight that you may learn the lesson of ever serving your fellow creatures with love and kindness." 'The next morning He brought a beautiful bunch of white narcissus. He sat down and drank tea with us, then arose and bade us adieu. We were going back to Haifa that day and He had been called away. As we "vere leaving the city we saw Him standing by the gate. He smiled at us as we passed. Our hearts were both sorrowful and happy. Happy because we had seen Him, but sorrowful because we were leaving Him.' Lua closed her letter to her American friends, . saylng: 'These words are very weak and inadequate. But no one could describe this place and it is foolish to try. Each must see for himself. Therefore, pray God earnestly that the blessings of coming here may soon be besto",red upon you. 'And now I send you all my love and pray God to bless you now and forever. 1-fay your hearts all be united and your souls become as one soul living in separate bodies. Thus you will resemble our Lord, and draw nearer unto God the loving Father of us all! 'Your loving sister and co-worker in the Cause, Lua.'

10. 'Abdu'l-Bahti, Father of the Poor Lua \vrote many letters to her friends in America. She told then1 all she could about the beautiful life of 'Abdu'l-Baha. She described the many moving scenes by which she was surrounded in the Holy Land. She shared with them touching, heart-warming stories showing the special love which the people of Haifa and 'Akka had for the Master. Each of the pilgrims in Lua's party experienced days of delight and joy, days \vhich recalled the zeal and ecstasy of those v/ho first met Jesus the Christ. Each received confirmations and was fired vvith great eagerness to serve the Cause of God. Each had his own story to tell. Perhaps we should see 'Abdu'l-Baha through their eyes as well. The first member of the Negro race ever to embrace the Baha'i Faith in America was in that first party of pilgrims in 1898. Robert Turner became a faithful believer all the days of his life. He was 'transported by the influence exerted by 'Abdu'l-Bahi in the course of that epoch-making pilgrimage'. Nothing throughout his long life would ever again becloud the 'radiance' or 'lessen the intensity of the emotions which the lovingkindness showered by 'Abdu'l-Baha upon him had excited in his breast.' Mrs Hearst, the friend who had been their hostess on the journey, declared those days to be 'the most memorable' of her life. She described 'Abdu'l-Bahi as 'the Inost \vonderful Being I have ever met or ever expect to meet in this world'. She alluded to the 'spiritual attnosphere which surrounds Him and most po\verfully affects all those "\vho are blest by being near Him' as something 'indescribable' . May Max\vell, \vho vvas to becon1e the motherteacher of Europe, and to open France and Canada to the Fait11 of Bahi'u'llih, recorded for posterity her never-to-be-forgotten impressions of her first glimpse of 'Abdu'l-Baha, and l1er meeting \vith Him. ' ... I can remember neither joy nor pain nor anything that I can name. I had been carried suddenly to too great a height; my soul had come in contact \rvith the Divine Spirit; and this force so pure, so holy, so mighty, had overwhelmed me ... We could not remove our eyes from His glorious face: we heard all He said; \rve drank tea with Him at His bidding; but existence seemed suspended, and when He arose and suddenly left us \ve came back with a start to life: but never again, oh I never again, thank God, to tlle same life on this earth!'

Let us share a glimpse of 'Abdu'l-Baha from the pen of one \vho was 110t a Baha'i, a famous American attorney. He also was a guest of 'Abdu'l-Baha during those same years. His name was Myron H. Phelps. Mr Phelps \rvas so moved by 'Abdu'l-Baha's Christlike life that he set down in deathless language a picture of 'Abdu'l-Baha, as Lua herself had seen Him many times in the streets of the ancient city of 'Akka. He wrote an entire book about 'Abdu'l-Baha. On one occasion, Phelps described a typical day in the life of 'Abdu'l-Baha: 'Some day at this season, ... you may see the poor of Akka gathered at one of the shops \vhere clothes are sold, receiving cloaks from the Master. Upon many, especially the most infirm or crippled, he himself places the garment, adjusts it ... approvingly, as if to say, "Therel Now you will do well ... " 'On feast days he visits the poor at their homes. He chats with them, inquires into their health and comfort, mentions by name those who are absent, and leaves gifts for all ... 'He himself eats but once a day, and then bread, olives, and cheese suffice him. 'His room is small and bare, with only a matting on the stone floor. His habit is to sleep upon this floor. Not long ago a friend, thinking that this must be hard for a man of advancing years, presented him with a bed fitted with springs and mattress. So these stand in his room also, but are rarely used. "For how," he says, "can I bear to sleep in luxury when so many of the poor have not even shelter?" So he lies upon the floor and covers himself only with his cloak ... 'He is the beloved of all the city, high and low. And how could it be otherwise? For to this man it is the law, as it was to Jesus of Nazareth, to do good to those who injure him ... 42. 'This 1faster ['Abdu'l-Baha] is as simple as his soul is great. He claims nothing for himself-neither conlfort, nor honour, nor repose. Three or four hours of sleep suffice him; all the remainder of hls time and allilis strength are given to the succour of those "\vho suffer, in spirit or in body. "I am," he says, "the servant of God." 'Such is Abbas Effendi ['Abdu'l-Baha], the IYIaster of Akka.'

l\1ay lYfax\vell described 'vividly t1le day 'Abdu'l- Baha unexpectedly told thenl to prepare to go from Haifa to 'Akka. ~fay was feeling ill. 'On Tuesday night,' l\1ay later wrote, 'I told my spiritual mother [LuaJ that the Master evidently did not realize hov{ ill and weak I was or He would never have expected me to leave with the others on Wednesday morning. Ohl We of little faith! No \vonder SllC smiled and shook l1er head, saying, "You will soon realize sotnething of the power of 'Abdu'l-Baha." 'It was about dawn when I awoke, feeling myself stirred by a breeze. I cannot describe what followed, but through lny soul was flowing an essence; a mighty, unseen force \vas penetrating all my being, expanding it \vith boundless life and love and happiness, lifting and enfolding me in its mighty strength and peace.'

'Abdu'l-Bahi assured that first party of pilgrims that every soul, no matter ho\v humble his station in life, could win great victories for the Cause of God. 'We can all serve in the Cause of God,' 'Abdu'l- Baha said, 'no matter \vhat our occupation is. No occupation can prevent the soul coming to God. Peter was a fisherman, yet he accomplished most wonderful things; but the heart must be turned al\vays to\vard God, no matter \vhat the \vork is; this is the itnportant thing; and then the po\ver of God \vill \vork in us. We are like a piece of iron in the midst of the fire which becomes heated to such a degree that it partakes of the nature of the fire and gives out the same effect to all it touchesso is the soul that is al"\vays turned to\vard God, and filled witll the spirit.'

I I. 'Follow Me; be as I an]" When the day came for those first pilgrims to leave 'that perfumed land "\vhich is forever blest and holy above all places', their hearts "\vere l1eavy. Soon they would be on the high. seas sailing a\rvay from His wondrous presence. 'Abdu'l-Baha . called them to Him that final morning. Lua's beloved May NIax\vell captured for all of them the spirit of that last intervie\v with 'Abdu'l- Baha before their departure. May testified to the atmosphere of love that surrounded them all in these words: 'In the might and majesty of His presence our fear was turned to perfect faith, our weakness into strength, our sorro\v into 110pe and ourselves forgotten in our love for I-lim. As we sat before Him waiting to hear His words, some of the believers wept bitterly. He asked them for His sake not to weep, nor \vould He talk to us or teach us until all tears were banished . . .' Among 'Abdu'l-Baha's \vords of comfort and inspiration on that occasion \vere these: 'You have come here among the first and your reward is great. There are two visits; the first is for a blessing; then ye come and are blest and are sent fortil to work in God's vineyard; the second ye come with music and the banners flying, like soldiers, in gladness and triumph to receive your reward.' 'Abdu'l-Baha promised Lua, May Max\vell and their fellow-pilgrims that the 'spirit' which flooded through all of them in this day far exceeded that animating the great figures of past religions. ' ... I say unto you,' 'Abdu'l-Baha declared, 'that anyone who will rise up in the Cause of God at this time shall be filled with the spirit of God, and that He '\vill send His hosts from heaven to help you, and that nothing shall be impossible to you if you have faith.' What a '\vonderful promise. The souls of His listeners were galvanized. They \vere eager to rush forth into the vineyard. 'And no\v I give you a commandment which shall be for a covenant between you and Me-that ye have faith; that your faith be steadfast as a rock that no storms can move, that nothing can disturb, and that it endure through all things even to the end; even should ye Ilear that your Lord has been crucified, be not shaken in your faith; for I am with you al"vays, whether living or dead, I am with you to the end. As ye have faith so shall your po\vers and blessings be. This is the balance-this is the balance -this is the balance.' 'Abdu'l-Baha closed that interview, which was to change the Western world and ultimately the face of the globe, with these words of tender love: 'Now the time has come \vhen we must part, but the separation is only of our bodies, in spirit we are united ... Great mercy and blessings are promised to the people of your land [America], but on one condition: that their hearts are filled \vith the fire of love, that they live in perfect kindness and harmony like one soul in different bodies. If they fail in this condition the great blessings \vill be deferred. Never forget this; look at one another with the eye of perfection; look at }J:e, follow Me, be as I am; take no thought for yourselves or your lives, whether ye eat or whether yc sleep, "\vhether ye are comfortable, whether ye are \vell or ill, "\vhether ye are with friends or foes, whether ye receive praise or blame; for all of these things ye must care not at all. Look at Me and be as I am; ye must die to yourselves and to the world, so shall ye be born again and enter the I<ingdom of Heaven. Be110ld a candle how it gives its light. It weeps its life a\vay drop by drop in order to give fortll its flame of light.'

12. The Flrst l\lartyr for Women's Rlgllts With such words and memories as t11ese engraved on their hearts and minds, those first pilgrims \vent from the Holy Land-May to Paris, Lua to America. Lua had no\v but one purpose in mind. She was deternlined to tell all the \vorld about Baha'u'llah. The Teachings of the Baha'i Faith had taken full possession of her soul. 'Abdu'l-Baha had instructed Lua that in her teaching she must become as courageous as Tahirih, the greatest heroine of the early days of the Ba11a'i Faith in Persia. rfahirih, like Lua, "vas also in her t\venties \vhen she first heard of the Faith. Tahirih, a young poetess of outstanding beauty and intelligence, \vas called the Persian Joan of Arc. When she gave her life in martyrdonl for this Faith, a famous European diplomat called her martyrdom 'one of the most affecting episodes in modern history'. Such was rrahirih's eloquence that '\vhen she spoke one felt stirred to the depths of one's soul, was filled \vith adrniration, and was moved to tears'. A professor from Cambridge University had written that 'the appearance of such a \VOlIlan' as Tahirih was 'a prodigy-nay, almost a miracle'.

There were special historical links bet\vecn these two heroines of the Baha'i raith, the matchless Tahirih, peerless and unequalled, and the one 'Abdu'l-Baha said should be her counterpart in America, the ilnnl0rtal Lua. When Lua's mother was five years old, in 1848, the first Woman's Rights Conference was held in upper New Yark, the beginning of tIle movement for women's suffrage in America. In the same year, in the tiny hamlet of Badasht in Persia, the early followers of the Baha'i Faith held their first Conference. Dr T. K. Cheyne, a reno\vned Bible scholar at Oxford University, \,vrote of that gathering in his book, The Reconciliation of Races and Religions, saying that as a result of the coming of the Bab, Prophet- Forerunner of the Baha'i Faith, the distinctions bet"veen 'races' and between 'male and female' "\vere at an end. Suc11 things \,vere discussed on that historic occasion. It was then that Tahirih, casting off the 'veil' and breaking \'vith the past Islamic subjugation of "vomen, proclaitned: 'I am the bugle! I am the bell!' sounding an end to the fetters that bound her sex. Only a short time later, Tahirih was to be slain for her beliefs. She \vas martyred in 1852, the year in which another \\1oman's Rights Convention was held in that same upper New York, just nineteen years before Lua's birth. Tahirih has been called 'the first woman suffrage martyr'. Dr Cheyne, in this same book, stated: 'If there has been any propl1et in recent times, it is to Baha'u'llah that we must go.' He also declared that Tahirih's 'insight' came from Baha'u'lhih, \'Vho presided at that historic Conference in Badas11t. Cheyne credited Tahirih \'vith 'opening the catalogue of social reforms in Persia'. This was the heroine whom 'Abdu'l-Baha held up to Lua as the example she must follow. 'Abdu'l-Baha said that Tahirih . was 'a brand afire with the love of God'. He told Lua she must exert every effort to be like her. He gave her a prayer to recite so that she might achieve this goal. Lua, who knew of the glory and greatness of Tahirih, protested that she could not. 'It is beyond me,' she said. 'I am too \veak, too filled with faults. If I pray to be like her, God will kno\v that I am lying.' 'Abdu'l-Baha said 'You must l' He told Lua to pray always that she \vould be like Tahirih, who had broken with the past, cast off the veil and provided the trumpet-blast that had helped to herald this Ne\v Day of God.

Lua did her best to obey 'Abdu'l-Baha. Her l1eart was surrendered in uns\verving love and obedience to every \Y/ ord of His instructions. Lua fully accepted Baha'u'llah as the Nlessenger of God for this day. She believed in every Word He had written as a guide to mankind. Because of this complete and unquestioned dedication, her soul \vas infused with a divine quality of love for all human beings. Tfhis universal love gave Lua an unconscious and effortless ability to magnetize and inspire those with whom she came in contact. One could never forget the picture of Lua standing straight as a lance before an assembly of people, her head thro\vn back, her eyes alight, opening her lips and pouring forth a stream of golden eloquence. For 'Abdu'l-Baha had bestovved a unique and special gift of eloquence upon Lua. Lua confided this secret to 11er friend Juliet Thompson, an American portrait painter. The Master, she said, had promised her that she would have this gift. All Lua had to do when facing an audience was to rely completely on the strong current of her Faith, turn to 'Abdu'l-Baha, and He ,vould not fail her. The fact that Lua did indeed possess this n1agic gift of eloquence \vas testified to repeatedly by her listeners. They \vould sit spellbound by Lua's voice, entranced by her astonishing \vords, so simple, so basic, and so moving. I-Ier friend, 1vfiss Thompson, often said that Lua reminded her of Tahirih . and her ecstatic announcement before her death: 'I an1 the bugle! I am the bell!'

13. Lua Leaves the Alaster: Frol1l Sunlight into Darkness Lua's destiny \vas to carry her often between America and 'l\kka. It was on one of her many visits to 'l\bdu'l-Bahi that l1cr impatience for spiritual gro\vth caused her to exclain1, 'Oh, my beloved 11aster, I want to be perfected I I \vant to be perfected quickly I' 'Abdu'l-Baha looked at her \vith a loving smile and gently shook His head. Lua repeated her request more urgently. 'Quickly! I \vant to be perfected quickly so that I may truly serve Thee.' 'Abdu'l-Baha warned her that she could not stand the process of being 'perfected quickly'. 'Oh, yes, I can,' she cried, 'if it will make me a better servant to Thee.' 'Abdu'l-Baha "vas firm. ;-rhe creation of Almighty God is perfect, but the perfections appear gradually. The seed comes to fruitage through the growth of the tree. But Lua's impetuous spirit would not be stilled. Patiently, the Master educated this eager servant, preparing her for the years of teaching that lay ahead. The Ivies sage Lua \vas to carry to the world was simple: The religion of God is one religion, and all the !vfessengers have taught the same fundamental truth. In the Teachings of Moses we see the seed, in those of Christ the plant, in those of Mu1).ammad the branches, in those of the Bab and Baha'u'llah the fruit. All are part of the single, unfolding, progressively revealed Truth. All teach the same inward truths about God, the soul, immortality; but Their outward Teachings are adapted to the age in which These 11essengers appear, and change according to the needs of society. All Their laws, principles, and institutions are for the betterment of mankind. Mr Thornton Chase, the first person to accept Baha'u'lhih itl America, expressed these truths as he felt them after his pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Thornton Chase became a Baha'i just a fe\v months before Lua. He followed her to the presence of 'Abdu'l-Baha, and wrote: 'Five days we remained \vithln those ,valls, prisoners \vitIl Him \vIlo dwells in that "Greatest Prison". It is a prison of peace, of love and service. No wish, no desire is there save the good of mankind, the peace of the world, the acknowledgment of the Fatherhood of God and the mutual rights of men as His creatures, His children.'

The hour came for Lua to leave 'Akka yet another time. She was being sent out into the 'vineyard of God'. 'Abdu'1-Ba11a told her to put into practice all that she had learned there at the heart of the Faith. The instructions of 'Abdu'l-Baha \.vere loving and tender. Yet, to Lua, leaving the presence of 'Abdu'l-Baha was the worst possible disaster. She felt she had been banished fro>m her beloved Master. She felt that 'Abdu'l-Baha was sending l1er away to teach l1er patience. She kne'\v only too \vell hovv desperately s11e needed to learn this lesson, but leaving 'Abdu'l-Baha \vas like going from the sunlight into the darkness. A sudden transition from life to death. It was almost too much for Lua's spirit. But she bowed her head meekly and obeyed. She returned at once to America.

Part III

THE WEST AIDS THE EAST 14. The "Vest Shall Replace the East Future historians \vill be botll intrigued and fascinated by the many 'links' \vhich bind the people of the \Vest to the Baha'i Faith, and have so united the1TI ever since its birth in Persia in 1844. In the very hour of that birth, the Bab, \Vho "vas the Herald of the Baha'i Faith, called out to tI1e people of the West, as vlell as to those of the East. He urged them to spontaneously seek their Lord, and to arise for the service of mankind. In His first Book, begun on that night, the Bab 'directly addressed the "peoples of tbe West," and significantly bade them "issue forth" from their H cities" to aid God, and U beco1JJe as brethren" in His

"one and indivisible religion".' Baha'u'llah, in anticipation of this development of His Faith in the West, \vrote: (lit the East, the light of His Revelation hath broken; in the fPest the signs of His dOlninion have appeared.' And 'Abdu'l-Baha was later to \vrite, (The day is approaching when J'e shall 11/ilness h01VJ through tbe splendor of the Faith of Bah!l' u' Ildh J the ff7est will have replaced the East, radiatillg the light of Divine gttidance.' Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the Baha'i Faith and grandson of 'Abdu'l-Baha, therefore points out: 'The importance of so momentous a development in the evolution of the Faith of Baha'u'lhih-the establishment of His Cause in the Nort11 American continent-~t a time "\vhen 'Abdu'l-Bahi had just inaugurated His ]\fisslon ... can in no "\vise be overestimated. ' Thus we begin to realize the significance of that historic first pilgrimage undertaken by Lua and l1er illustrious companions from the West.

1"ihe Blessed Bah "\-vas martyred in 1850, s110t down by a firing-squad of 750 old-style muskets. The first ,Tolley failed to kill I-lim. It cut the cords that bound Him, thereby freeing Him. The French author IvI. C. I-iuart Vlrote: 'It was a real miracle.' The Frel1c11 historian A. L. ~f. Nicolas described that event as a thing 'unique in the annals [of the history] of humanity'. The Bab's sacred remains \vere hidden from His enemies, and moved from place to place for fifty years* until, at last, they arrived in the Holy Land to be enton1bed 011 the side of God's holy lTIountain, Carmel, on the site chosen by Baha'u'lUill Hin1self. It was in the same period that Lua and her conlpanions arrived as the first pilgrims from the \Y/est. In that same year of 1899, 'Abdu'l-Bahi ,vent to Mount Carmel and there, \vith I-lis own hands, laid the foundation-stone for the Edifice of the Shrine of the Bab \vhich His Father, Bahi'u'llih, l1ad told Him to build on that exact spot. ,\-{lithin a few months I-Ie began its construction.

Ten years later, 'Abdu'l-Baha's royal enemy, Sul~an '.1\bdu'l-I:-Iamfd II, lost his throne. During * By the lunar calendar. the intervening years, in spite of His enemies \vho had threatened to exile Him to Africa, cast Him into the sea, or hang Him on the gallows, 'Abdu'l- BaM had serenely continued His work on the Shrine for the sacred remains of the Bab. Now it was finished. The Sultan \vas overthro\vn. He became a prisoner and an exile. 'Abdu'l-Baha Himself has said, 'God took the chains from off my neck and placed them about the neck of 'Abdu'l-Ijamid.' How Lua's heart must have leaped for joy \vhen, a decade after her first pilgrimage, she heard the news that her beloved l\1aster was free at last I He had spent half a century as a prisoner and an exile, from the age of nine until, fifty-six years later, His imprisonment came to an end. Almost immediately, 'Abdu'l-Baha prepared to place the remains of the Bab in the white marble sarcophagus \vhich had been designed for that purpose and sent as a gift by the Baha'is of Rangoon, Burma. He was free to fulfil the sacred task given Him by His Father. The holy dust of the Bab would soon rest in the 'vineyard of God', Mount Carmel. 'Abdu'l-Baha Himself has described this accomplishment as 'one of the most signal acts' of His Ministry. On more than one occasion, we are told by the Guardian, He 'testified' that 'the safe transfer of these remains', vvhich had been hidden from enemies and moved from place to place for over half a century, the 'construction of a befitting mausoleum to receive them', and their interment with His own hands in their final and 'permanent resting-place' together constituted one of the 'three principal objectives' of His mISS1on. His achieven1ent has been called' one of the outstanding events in the first Baha'i centurv'. '"

15. The Bab and Baha'u'lldlz: the DaUJfl and the Sun Baha'u'lhih I-i:imself had chosen the site \vhere the Shrine of the Bab \vas to be built. I-lis tent had been pitched on the side of Mount Carmel, and, while seated near a clump of cypress trees \vhich still stand as sentinels, He had pointed out the exact spot. It \vas Bah8~'u'llah \X'ho gave to 'l\.bdu'l-Baha the task of raising that noble structure and arranging for that sacred dust to be brought from Persia. Now the time had come w11en 'l~.bdu'l-Baha's arduous labour \vas reaching an end. All the sorrows, hardships and suffering were forgotten. The Blessed Bab, Who vIas the 'return of Elijah', would be laid to rest for all time \vithin sight of the famous Cave of Elijah on Mount Carmel. It was in 1909 that Lua \vas privileged to receive a letter from tIle Holy I.land, announcing the good news of the final entombment of those sacred remains in the bosom of the 'holy hill'. Lua and all the Baha'is in the West were deeply affected \vhen they received a description of the moving events that took place on that occasion. \Vhat a glorious moment it \vas! And in that moment the closeness bet\veen the East, the West, and the heart of the Baha'i Faith in t11e Holy Land ,vas strikingly demonstrated, as we shall see. In order that \ve may fully appreciate the significance of this achievement, and experience with Lua the joy that surrounded l1er "vhen she heard the ne\'ilS, \ve shall revic\v briefly some of the events that led up to this victory. Lua herself had no doubt heard these stories many times from the lips of the Master and her fello\v-pilgritTIs from Persia.

The Bab frequently told His follo\vers that I-Ie, Himself, \vas merely 'the channel of grace from some great Person still behind the ,reil of glory [Baha]'. It "vas the Bab's \vish that I-Ie should never be separated from Baha'u'lhih in life or in death. In the early days of His lvIinistry, the Bab journeyed to\vard Tihran, the capital of fran and the birthplace of Baha'u'lhih. Tihran has been described in the Baha'i \Vritings as 'the mother of the \vorld'. The Bah visited a nearby sacred Shrine. While in that neighbourhood, He revealed a Tablet \vhich He instructed His follo"\v"ers to chant there. The love \v11ic11 the Bab had for Baha'u'llali is evident in . the words which He addressed to that buried saInt: '\Y/ell it is \vith you to have found your resting place ... under the shado\v of lYfy Beloved. Would that I might be entombed \vithin the precincts of that holy ground!' Follo\ving His martyrdom, the remains of the Bab, which had been cast into a moat outside the city of Tab riz , \vere rescued by His followers, brought to Tihran, and for a time were entombed in that very Shrine \vithin the shado\v of Baha'u'llah. They \vere transferred from place to place, from danger to safety, under the direction of Bahi'u'lhih, for nearly fifty years, until they reached the I-Ialy J.Jand "\vhcre for all tin1e the 1101y Dust of the Bab "\vould rest 'under the shado\v' of I-lis Beloved.

Nabil, the historian of those early days, enriches our understanding of the significance of the entombment of the rcnlains of the Bab on IvIount Carmel, by pointing to the unique love that had bound the Bab and Baha'u'llah toget11cr since the earlies t days of the Bahi'i F ai tho Baha'u'llah, Nabil tells us, had such a love for the Bab that I-Ie \vould not let flirn suffer any pain, indignity, or humiliation in \vhich fIe, Baha'u'llah, did not share. The Bib "vas first confined ill the house of the Chief Constable of Shiraz in Persia. Shortly after this, Bahi'u'lhih \vas confined in the house of one of the religious leaders in tfihran. The Bab's second imprisonment was in the castle of 1vIah-Ku; that of Baha'u'llah followed "\vhen He was imprisoned in the residence of the governor of Amul. rrhe Bab \vas scourged in the prayer-house in l abriz. t"rhc very same punishment "\vas inflicted f

shortly af!er this upon Baha'u'lla11 in the prayerhouse at Amul. The Bab's third imprisonment was in the castle of Chihriq; that of Bahi'u'lhih in the Black-Pit prison of Tihran. The Bab was struck in the face with missiles when paraded through the streets of Tabriz, beaten, ridiculed and humiliated; Baha'u'llah was pelted '\vith stones ill the streets of ):i.mul, again in NiyaJa, still again '\vhile paraded in chains bareheaded and barefooted in the blazing sun ell rottle to the Siyah- Chal prison. I-Ie was beaten, ridiculed, hutniliated, and cast into a deep underground pit, His feet in stocks. I-Ie \vas \veighted do\vn \vith hundredpound chains that tore His flesh. He "vas chained to the floor and to Ills companions in that black darkness. 'The Bab \vas slain in the public square of Tabriz; Baha'u'lhih began a half century of persecution as a l=>risoner and an Exile. He \vas poisoned in the Black-Pit prison. He ,\vas set upon by assassins in Baghdad. He \vas poisoned t\vice again in Adrianople. He \vas arrested and interrogated by soldiers on hvo separate occasions, and shut up in the fortress prison of 'Akka, the most dreaded prison in all the Turkish empire. Nabil recounts in his history: 'Tfhe Bab, \vhose trials and sufferings had preceded, in almost every case, those of Baha'u'lhih, had offered I-limself to ransom His Beloved [Baha'u'llah] from the perils that beset that precious Life; \vhile Baha'u'lhih, on 11.is part, un"\villing that He \vho so greatly loved I-lim should be the sole Sufferer, shared at every turn the cup that had touched His [the Bib's] lips. Such love no eye has ever beheld, nor has nl0rtal heart conceived such mutual devotion. If the branches of every tree \vere turned into pens, and all the seas into ink, and earth and heaven rolled into one parchment, the immensity of that love would still remain unexplored, and the depths of that devotion unfathomed.' There is yet another example of the unique oneness that bound together the Bib and Baha'u'llih. It can be found by examining the calendar of Persia. According to the 365-day solar calendar of the West, in which the days of the month never change, the Bab was born on October 20th and Bahi'u'llah was born on November I zth. But, according to the 36o-day lunar calendar in the land of Their birth, in which the days of the n10ntb. change each year, the Bab was born on the first day of Mul;arram and Baha'll'llah on the second day of Mul).arram; One after the Other, first the Bab, then Baha'u'llah. In Persia, these t\vin successive Holy Days are celebrated as one great joyous Festival. Thus in every way Their 11issions \vere bound together for all eternity. No\v, even Their sacred remains were united forever in the Holy Land, and the promises in all the holy Scriptures were at last fulfilled. The wish of the Bab, Whose Name means 'the gate', had come true at last. He would rest forever 'in the shadow of His Beloved'. Today His golden-domed Shrine looks across the blue Bay of Haifa to\vard Bahji, outside 'Akka, where Baha'u'llah, Whose Name means 'the glory of God', lies enshrined in a garden that has made the 'desert blossom as the rose'. The glory of God, Bahi'u'llah, had come to the Holy Land from the East through the gate, the Bab, as foretold by Ezekiel. That glorious Kingdom of God 011 earth promised by Christ would through them become a reality. The Bab and Baha'u'llah WeTe together at last in that 'sno\,v-\vhite spot', the 'nest of all the I'rophets of God'. They represented the 'return' of l~lijtlh and Christ to Christianity; i\Iessiah ben Joseph and l~.[essiab ben Israel to Judaism; tbe A1ibdi and Jesus tbe Christ to Sunni Islam; the Od'itl! and tbe I!Jltilii , C"'>,.,.,

I-lttsaVI1 to Shi'ih Islanl: Usbfdar-l*rldh and the L}bdh- • ~ .J ,~<._.~_. _~_

Babrtllil to Zoroastrianism. ffhev vvere the first and .J

second TrttJ1Jpct blasts of the Qur'an; the second U70e and the third of the Book of Revelation; the Da\vn and the Sun of the ne\v Day. \'/hen \ve realize \Vho the Bab and Bahi'u'llih \verc, \ve no longer \vonder at the devotion, sacrifice and zeal of such heroines as Lua. \Ve only ll1arvel that thousands UpOl1 thousands n10re all over the \,vorld have not risen up to carryon her noble \'vork.

Lua had the 'eyes to see' and' ears to hear'. She \,laS taught by 'l\.bdu'l-Bahi f-limself. She \vas set ablaze by the knowledge that once again God had made Himself kno\vn to man, and that this time not one but tJro rvressengcrs of God had \valked on the face of the earth. This heavenly kno'\vlcdgc inspired her to travel, to pioneer, to teach, to accomplish such deeds as \\,-rould \vin her the titles of 'immortal' and 'herald' and 'banner' of the Baha'i Faith. Lua "vas ilT.tpatient to follo\v in the footsteps of the Bab, Baha'u'llah and her beloved Master.

16. The Flante Beglns to Burn !tIore Brightly The Guardian of the Baha'i Faith, Shoghi Effendi, has preserved for all time a picture of the moving spectacle which took place in 1vfarch 19°9 when 'Abdu'l-Baha, after overcoming half a lifetime of obstacles and opposition, finally placed the holy Dust of the Bab beneath the Shrine He had built to receive that precious Gift. , 'Abdu'l-Baha,' he has written, 'had the marble sarcophagus transported with great labor to the vault prepared for it, and in the evening, by the light of a single lamp, He laid within it, with His own hands-in the presence of believers from the East and from the West and in circumstances at once solemn and moving-the wooden casket containing . the sacred remains of the Bab and His companlon. 'When all was finished, and the earthly remains of the Martyr-Prophet of Shiraz were, at long last, safely deposited for their everlasting rest in the bosom of God's holy mountain, 'Abdu'l-Baha, Who had cast aside His turban, removed His shoes and thrown off His cloak, bent low over the still open sarcophagus, His silver hair waving about His head and His face transfigured and luminous, rested His forehead on the border of the wooden casket, and, sobbing aloud, wept with SUCll a weeping that all those who were present wept with Him. That night He could not sleep, so overwhelmed was He with emotion.'

Once again we see the unique and mysterious tie that binds the Baha'i Faith to its followers in the West. 'Abdu'l-Baha sent a Letter to the Baha'is of the world announcing this glorious victory. He also told them that no sooner had He returned to I-lis hOlne than a cablegram \-vas received, informing Him that the Baha'is of An1erica had held their first official Convention and had decided on the site and construction of the first Baha'i IIouse of VVrorship in the West. 'Abdu'l-Baha had \vritten as far back as 1893, the year after Baha'u'lhih's passing, that I-lis l~ather's Faith would some day have great success in the North American continent. His enemies had hooted in derision at such \vords from a helpless, condemned Prisoner who might be executed at any hour. Yet in that very year I893, the Baha'i Faith was first mentioned in the \Vest at the \Vorld's I)arliament of Religion. Lua \-vas but one of many \-vho were immediately intrigued by that announcement. A year later, Thornton Chase became the first Baha'i in the West. Lua follo\ved rapidly upon his heels. Others quickly joined then1. Then, as we have seen, in Decernber 1898, Lua and her fello\v-pilgrilns landed for the first time in the Holy Land. Although those f1rst pilgrims were as yet blind to the great significance of that event, 'l\bdu'l-Baha understood it only too well. What a flood of joy and gratitude to Baha'u'llih must have swept over Him as He looked upon their faces-the very first rays of a dawning light in the \\1est. 'Abdu'l-Baha was soon to "vrite: 'The West hath acquired illumination from the East, but, in some respects, the reflection of the light hath been greater in the Occident.' He also dccL::.red that 'the East hath, verily, been illumined vvith the light of the ICingdom. Erelong will this same light shed a still greater illutnination upon the West.' 'Abdu'l-Baha could \vell have been referring to such teachers as Lua when He said: 'The Blessed Perfection [Baha'u'llah] knows that day and night-rather every hour-I am looking to\vard the East and toward the \Vest, toward the North and to\vard the South, to see whether severed and attracted souls have arisen to teach the Cause of God ... whether enkindled hearts are raising their clarion voices in the assemblages of mankind ... These souls are my lost jewels. \'7henever I find a trace of them, or someone gives me a clue about them, I become infinitely happy and, adding to my zeal, I continue my indefatigable search. I pray to God that He may give me many such je\vels in America.'

Exciting ne\v teaching victories \vere taking place on every front, but still Lua suffered greatly because her heart longed to be with 'Abdu'l-Baha. She was never truly happy a\vay from I-lim. The only way Lua could fill the agonizing loneliness of separation from her beloved Master, was to lose herself completely in the teaching work. She rededicated ller entire life to spreading the glad tidings of Baha'u'llih' scorning. I-Jua knew that teaching was her only salvation, but little did she kno\v that it would win for her the crown of 'motherteacher of the American Baha'i community'. 'j\ bdu'I-13aha had told I,ua time and tinl1.e again: 'Day and night thou must engage in spreading the Teachings of Baha'u'lhih. Nothing else will avail thee,' He had said. Lua longed to become one of 'Abdu'l-Baha's 'lost jewels'. Perhaps then it might be possible for her to return to the l-Ioly Land. She forgot everything but teaching the Word of God. She began to plant the seeds in all parts of America. Lua's life became a living example of the \Vords of Baha'u'llah: 'Be unrestrained as the wind, while carrying the 11essage [of God] ... It bloweth in every direction, as bidden by its Creator.' Lua prayed constantly that her reckless and unsubdued spirit would quickly learn the lesson of patience. One of her colleagues said, 'She was impatient to be patient.' It was not an easy lesson for her. Lua felt certain that 'Abdu'l-Baha vvas waiting for her to win this struggle, and if she could achieve this victory over herself, He would open before her eyes new doors , of service.

17. Lua's Mlsslon to tIle Klng A short time later, a letter arrived from 'Abdu'l- Baha. It called upon Lua to undertake one of her most important missions. One of her friends ,vas present when the letter arrived. The following is her account. It not only describes the radiant joy and happiness of Lua, who now considered herself reunited \vith her beloved 11aster, but it also tells of the dramatic and moving events that follo,ved 'Abdu'l- Baha's summons. 'Lua was surprised when she opened her letter from the 11aster, to find that \vithin was another letter. Suddenly her face drained of color. , "What's wrong?" I asked. 'Lua didn't ans\,ver. She continued reading with increased agitation. Her manner told me that the letter contained some staggering news. '''It is a letter written by 'Abdu'l-Baha," she told me. "It is addressed to the Shah, the I(ing of Persia, who is in Paris!" Lua hesitated as if the thought were almost too much to bear. "The j\tfaster has asked me to take it to the Shah and deliver it in person." 'The letter explained that once again the religious fanatics in Persia had begun persecuting the followers of tl1e Baha'i Faith. These shameless persecutions had taken place spasmodically since the earliest days of the Faith. 11any believers, among them women and children, had been, and were still being killed for their belief. , 'Abdu'l-Baha wrote to the Shah on behalf of those helpless, tortured Baha'is. He asked the I(ing to extend his protection to them. To make sure that His tablet to the I(ing would be delivered, He arranged to send it by a special messenger. Although there were many Baha'is in Paris at that time, it was to America and to Lua that 'Abdu'l- Baha turned to seek this messenger. He asked Lua to be His representative and personally carry this important message to the Shah. She was to deliver it to him with her own hands. 'As soon as Lua arrived in Paris, she sought out the Prime 1v1inister of Persia. She \vas turned away at his door. She \vas infortned that I-lis Excellency could see no one. The Prime Minister's son was seriously ill and not expected to live. 'But Lua \vould not be sent a\vay defeated. She turned to the official's secretary and said, "Would you take a message from me to His Excellency, and permit me to wait for his answer?" , "There is no purpose in your waiting for his answer," the secretary insisted. "He will see no one." 'Lua gently persisted, "Will you ask him if I may see him tomorrow should his son be healed in the meantime?" 'The secretary fro\vned impatiently, dismissed her and turned away. Lua did not leave. Finally the secretary looked at her once more. She smiled at him with loving patience. He shrugged his shoulders, sighed, and said, "Very well. Y ou wait here." He went into the next room. Immediately Lua began to pray quietly to herself. 'Soon the secretary returned, a puzzled look in his eyes. , "The Minister will see you tomorro\v. But only upon your own conditions I" 'Lua thanked him and withdrew. 'That night she gathered together as many of the Baha'is of Paris as possible. \Vhen tlley were assembled, she told them of her mission and asked them for their help. , "Let us sit up all night and pray for the little boy," she urged. She told them hO\\T the j\faster had taught her that any difficulty could be solved through prayer. All that "vas necessary ,vas to be sincere.' Both Baha'u'llih and 'Abdu'l-Baha then1selves resorted to the power of prayer in titnes of difficulty. Baha'u'lhih, during the days of trial in Baghdad, when He \vas surrounded by enemies, directed IIis followers to recite over and over a prayer revealed by the Bab for just such times of crisis. One of Baha'u'llih's companions has himself testified to just such an occasion: 'I stood rooted to the spot, lifeless, dried up as a dead tree, ready to fall under the impact of the stunning po\ver of His [Baha'u'llah's] words. Finally, He said: '''Bid them recite: 'Is there any Remover of difficulties save G·od? Say: Praised be God! He is God! All are His servants, and all abide by His bidding l' Tell them to repeat it five hundred times, nay, a thousand times, by day and by night, sleeping and waking, that haply the Countenance of Glory may be unveiled to their eyes, and tiers of light descend upon them." , Baha'is throughout the world, as well as their friends and sympathizers, have found this simple prayer of the Bab a source of great comfort and assistance in time of need. \VtTith such prayers, Lua called upon the Baha'is of Paris to assist her with her mission. '\X?ith Lua leading them,' her friend's report continues, 'they began!t vigil that lasted through the night. 'The next n10rning Lua returned to the Prin1e 1rfinister's office. The secretary greeted her with a broad and welcoming smile. He said simply, "The Prime Minister will see you right away." 'Lua's eyes twinkled. "Is the little boy better?" 'The secretary nodded. "The crisis is passed. lIe is well on his "vay to recovery." 'The secretary then opened the door that led to the Prime Minister.' Thus Lua was able to present one of the petitions through official channels, by which it eventually reached the Shah. 1-frs ~Iariam I-Ianey, another one of the stout hearted servants of Baha'u'lhih in America, made the journey to Paris with Lua. She has recalled the events surrounding that mission. 'Two petitions reached I-lis ~Iajesty, the Shih,' ]\;frs Haney wrote; 'one was presented in person by Lua on behalf of the Baha'is in Paris, at the Elysee Palace Hotel where the Shah and his entourage were staying.' Muzaffari'd-Din-Shah . - left the 110tel with his Prime Minister, 'stepped into his waiting carriage and drove away \-vith the petition in his hand'. For some time follo\ving the presentation of these two petitions, there \-vas a remarkable cessation of persecution. Part IV

HERALD OF TI-IE COVENANT 18. 'Abdu' 1-Bahd Arrives ill A.111erica 'Abdu'l-Baha "vas still under confinement and close scrutiny when Lua made her first visit to the floly I.-and in 1898. It was not until ten years later in 1908 that 'Abdu'l-Baha was given His freedom. Immediately fIe n1ade plans to visit the West. 'Abdu'l-Baha, the Exemplar of 1-1is Father's Faith, Vlas about to give His follo\vers a personal example of what it meant to arise and teach the Cause of God. 'Abdu'l-Baha 'was at this time broken in health. He suffered from several maladies brougllt on by the strains and stresses of a tragic life spent almost wholly in exile and imprisonment.' First He laid to rest the holy Dust of the Bab in 'a safe and pern1anent' resting-place. He fulfilled this historic 1vfission given Him by His Father. Once that priceless 'trust' had been completed, 'Abdu'l-Baha 'arose \vith sublime courage, confidence and resolution to consecrate what little strengtl1 remained to Him, in the evening of His life, to a service of such heroic proportions that no parallel to it is to be found in the annals of the first Baha'i century'. The Son of Baha'u'llah "vas soon to travel 'first to Egypt, then to Europe and later to America'. His grandson and Guardian of the Bahi'i Faith, Shoghi Effendi, has written that these journeys \vould 'mark, if we would correctly appraise their historic importance, a turning point of the utmost significance in the history of the century'. 'Abdu'l-Bahi, Lua's beloved 1rlaster, was free at last! He was on His way to ignite fires that would never be quenched. Except for a brief period during the First \Vorld War 'Abdu'l-Baha would now enjoy to the end of His life a freedom v;.rhich has never since been withdrawn from the Institutions of the Baha'i Faith at its world centre. 'So momentous a change in the fortunes of the Faith was the signal for such an outburst of activity on His part as to dumbfound His follo,vers in East and West with admiration and wonder, and exercise an imperishable influence on the course of its future history.'

One of the greatest days of Lua's life \vas April 11th, 1912, when her dream came true, and the steamship Cedric sailed into New York harbour bringing 'Abdu'l-Baha on I-lis historic visit to the shores of America. 'Abdu'l-Baha's arrival was an occasion for excitement, not only among the Baha'is but for the press and the people of New York as well. Newspaper reporters and News Service representatives came aboard the Cedric at quarantine and interviewed 'Abdu'l-Bahi coming up the bay. Versions of that historic interview appeared in newspapers all over America and around the world. It was the greatest single instance of the proclamation of the Faith of Baha'u'llah since the days of its birth. 'Abdu'l-Baha had truly, as promised by 1-1is Father, raised His voice in the West. The follo'\ving account is a description, both of 'Abdu'l-Baha Himself, and the purpose of His Mission, written not by a Baha'i but by a newspaper correspondent representing the New York City Ne'\vs Association. The press was keenly interested in the words of an exile and a prisoner ",7ho, after half a century of such suffering, was free to speak at last to the world. 'He comes on a mission of international peace,' reporter \\1. 1). Dodge explained in his press account, 'to attend and address the Peace Conference at Lake J\;Iohonk the latter part of this month, and to address various peace meetings, educational societies, religious organizations ... "Abdu'l-Baha was found on the upper deck, standing where he could see the pilot, his long, flowing oriental robe flapping in the breeze. 1-Ie was clothed in a long, black robe open at the front and disclosing another robe of light tan. Upon his head was a pure ",rhite turban, such as all eastern patriarchs wear. 'His face was light itself as he scanned the harbor and greeted the reporters... I-Ie is a man of medium height, though at first sight he seemed to be much taller. He is strongly and solidly built, and '\veighs probably one hundred and sixty-five pounds. As he paced the deck, talking \vith the reporters, he appeared alert and active in e"v"ery movement, his head thrown back and splendidly poised upon his broad, square shoulders, most of the time. A profusion of iron grey hair bursting out at the sides of the turban and hanging long upon the neck; a large, massive head, full-domed and remarkably wide across the forehead and temples, the forehead rising like a great palisade above the eyes, which were very wide apart, their orbits large and deep, looking out from under massive overhanging brows; strong Roman nose, generous ears, decisive yet kindly mouth and chin; a creamy white complexion, beard same color as his hair, worn full over the face and carefully trimmed at almost full length-this completes an insufficient word picture of this "Wise Man out of the East".' 'Abdu'l-Bahi spoke at length to the press representatives, ans\vering all their questions about peace, war, the rights of women, freedom of the press, education, true liberty and true religion. 'Abdu'l-Bahi displayed wisdom, love and a sense of humour as He chatted with the press reporters in His stateroom. He recalled an incident from the previous winter when a young Christian was about to set off on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The pilgrim was worried, feeling that he did not have the right spirit and sense of reverence. 'The proper spirit in which to visit places hallowed by remembrances of Christ,' 'Abdu'l- Bahi told His young visitor, 'is one of constant communion with God. Love for God will be the telegraph wire, one end of which is in the Kingdom of the Spirit, and the other in your heart.' 'I am afraid my telegrap11 '''lire is broken,' the would-be pilgrim complajned. 'Then,' said 'Abdu'l-Baha, laughing heartily, 'I told him : "You will have to use wireless telegraphy." ,

\Vhen the ship came abreast of the Statue of Liberty, 'Abdu'l-Baha stood erect facing the Statue and held up 1-lis arms in salutation. 'There is the new "\vorld's symbol of liberty and freedom,' He said. 'After being forty years a prisoner I can tell you that freedom is not a matter of place. It is a condition ... \vhen one is released from the prison of self, that is indeed a release.' 'Abdu'l-Baha waved farc\vell to the Statue as the ship turned to\-vards 1\1anhattan. rfo the reporters He said, 'In forn1er ages it has been said, "~ro lo\re one's native land is faith." But the tongue in this d. ay says, "Gl-ory lS not hOIS v/no ° 1 1 loves hOIS natIve . land, but glory is his \vho loves his kindhumanitv." , ~

'Abdu'l-Baha gazed up at the jagged skyline of those stone-canyons of Ne\v York. 'These,' fIe said, 'are the minarets of \Y!estern \Vorld commerce and industry.' 'Abdu'l-Baha suggested to the reporters that just as these buildings reached heavenward, so should the people vlho occupied theln be al\vays striving for the betterment of humanity, for universal peace, and for the good of all nations and mankind in general. 'The bricks make the house,' I-Ie told them, 'and if the bricks are bad the house \vill not stand ... It is necessary for individuals to become as good bricks, to eradicate from then1selves race and religious hatred, greed and a limited patriotism, so that, whetller they find then1selves guiding the government, or founding a honle, the result of their efforts may be peace and prosperity, love and happiness. '

Such "vere the '\vords first spoken by 'Abdu'l- Baha in America. Such \vere the scenes that greeted Him as He gazed for the first time upon this land "\vhich Baha'u'llih had addressed in His summons to the presidents and rulers of the Republics of the West. Now 'Abdu'l-Bahi was in one of those lands to help its leaders 'bind ... the broken with the hands of justice', \vords which Baha'u'llah I-limself had directed to these same rulers.

19. Lua and the Master Atfeet Agaln '.l\.bdu'l-Baha had been in America less than a month w11en He took one of the most historic actions of His entire journey. The site of the Baha'i House of \vorship in Wihnette, Illinois, the 'holiest House of \vorship ever to be raised to the Name of Baha'u'llah', \vas barren land on that chill, windy ivIay day when 'Abdu'l-Baha, ",dth 1-lis o"\vn hands, laid the corner-stone of that prototype edifice that would sooner or later change the face of human society. The Baha'is of America were gathered at a Convention in Chicago just preceding that great ev'ent. Lua was addressing an assembled crowd of over a thousand. She had just returned from a triumphant teaching tour in California. Lua's visit to California had been successful beyond all expectation, yet Lua was never fully a,\vare of the influence she had on others. Her heart \vas always anchored in her love for 'Abdu'l-Bahiresults she left to God and to the future. Her presence in San Francisco in 1911, just preceding 'Abdu'l-Baha's visit to America, had been of great importance to another Baha'i, John I-Ienry Hyde Dunn. lIe has often told ho\v he sought Lua out on every occasion for a private interview. She gave him generously of her time. No doubt one of Lua's 'inner promptings' told her that this was one of 'Abdu'l-Baha's 'lost jewels'. Hyde Dunn, with his wife, Clara, would in a few years sail away to the Antipodes and open up the entire continent of Australia to the Baha'i Faith. John David Bosch, '\vho with his wife, Louise, pioneered to Tahiti and opened those South Pacific Islands to the Cause of God, also made a gift of his beautiful Geyserville, California, property to the Faith. It became one of the first and most influential of the Baha'i summer schools. It continues to function on an ever-expanding scale even until today. Mr Bosch has himself explained that it was the visit of Lua which inspired hin1 to write to 'Abdu'l- Baha and offer his land for the benefit 'of the teachings of Baha'u'llah'. These were a few of the teaching victories that Lua, the 'mother-teacher of the West', unwittingly brought to Chicago on that historic occasion, to lay at the feet of her belo'ved !\fraster, 'Abdu'l,.. Baha.

At the exact moment that this 'herald' of the Cause was addressing her fellow-Baha'is in Chicago, the exciting news was announced that '.f\bdu'l- Baha had arrived at the Convention I Imagine, if you are a Christian, the happiness tllat would have flooded every l1cart in Rome if, not long after the beginning of Christianity, the .t\postle Peter or Paul had appeared in person at a huge gathering of the followers of 11is I-Ioliness Christ. Then magnify that feeling a thousandfold, for Baha'u'lhih, the return of Christ, f-i"oundcr of the Baha'i Faith, llad "\vith I-lis o\vn Pen, in a written Will and Testament, appointed 'Abdu'l-Baha as His Successor, the One to Whom the entire "\vorld should turn. There \vere no doubts. It \vas a Covenant for all time. 'Abdu'l-Baha, the Son of the Promised One of all religions, \vas \valking in their midst, on the face of the earth, here in Chicago. The moment His blessed countenance appeared in the door\vay, a thrill of expectancy electrified the Convention hall. 'At once, the vast concourse, as one person, arose' in breathless silence as the One Whom they had so long awaited appeared. Ho\v many times Lua described that unforgettable moment to her friends. All eyes were on her beloved Master as He slowly made His \vay towards the front. Tears of joy Ro\ved. His smiling, radiant countenance lifted their hearts into another kingdom. That reverent hush \vas broken only by the soft, wruspered prayers of gratitude and thanksgiving, and here and there a sob, torn from the depths of hearts which had longed so earnestly to witness this moment, but despaired of ever living to see it. But it was true! He was here among them! 'Abdu'l-Baha! The Master! The Mystery of God! The Son of Baha'u'lla11 ! They knew that such a tnoment would never come to them again. No other Baha'i Convention in the glorious future history of His Father's Faith would ever share the presence of 'Abdu'l-Baha, the Centre of Baha'u'llah's Mighty Covenant with mankind. It was indeed a moment unique, precious, historymaking. At long last 'Abdu'l-Baha faced His dearly loved followers in the West and spoke words of encouragement and inspiration. He told them about the great significance of the Temple whose foundation-stone was to be placed the follo\ving day. 'Abdu'l-Baha told them that this edifice 'was founded for the unification of mankind ... '. It is doubtful if many were able to take in His words until they read them later. Their hearts were too full of the majesty and magic of His presence among them. Words did not matter. It was the heart and soul that understood the joy and wonder of it all. The spirit of that hour was captured by the chorus as it sang in joyous harmony of the 'Great Day of God'.

The following day, Baha'is from all over America gathered in Wilmette on the site of the future Temple, a Temple \vhich \vould be the most holy House of Worship ever to be raised in the Name of Baha'u'lhlh. Lua \vas there all that occasion and heard her beloved 11as ter say: 'The po\ver \vhich has gathered you here today notwithstanding the cold and \vindy \veather is indeed Inighty and \vonderful. It is the power of God, the divine favor of Baha'u'llah [Glory of God] "\vhich has dra\vn you together.' 'Abdu'l-Baha predicted that out of this Temple, thousands of other temples would be born in all parts of the \vorld, but that this House of Worship would be t11e lTIother of thelTI all. 'It marks,' I-Ie has \vritten, 'the inception of the I<ingdom of God on earth.' \Vhat a blessing for Lua and that relatively small group of Baha'is to be present on that memorable occasion witll 'Abdu'l-Baha, to see and participate in the very earliest beginnings of the Christpromised I(ingdom of God on earth. 'Abdu'l-Baha called upon the people of the various races and nationalities who were there to participate and turn a bit of soil on behalf of their own people. Finally, at the end, 'Abdu'l-Baha set the stone in place on behalf of all the peoples of the world, and the 1rfother Temple was born. To the Baha'is assembled on that occasion, relatively few in number, with very limited resources, 'Abdu'l-Baha said, 'lvIake a beginning and all \vill come well.' Their task was to raise up a Mother Temple, and to conquer the \vorld with the sword of Baha'u'llih's Teachings. 'In the unseen ,vorld,' He said, 'the Temple is already built.'

20. Lua's Scllemes Go Astray It wasn't always possible for Lua to follow '.f\bdu'l- Bahi everywhere He travelled, but she did her best. In fact, one of 1-4ua's greatest joys ,vas thinking up ne,v \vays by ,vhich she could be \vith '.l\bdu'l- Baha in 1-1i5 journeys throughout J\mcrica. She longed to be in I-lis presence at a]] times. This took a great deal of scheming on her part. 'Abdu'l-Baha \vas well aware of Lua's love-inspired little plots. Once in Ilaifa, as she ,vas preparing to leave I-lim, 'Abdu'I-Baha is reported to have said laughingly, '\Xlill you begin to schelne to find a way to return here as soon as you reach .l~n1erica?' 'No, beloved l\1aster,' Lua answered honestly. 'I shall begin scheming as soon as I am on the boat.' 'Abdu'I-Baha spent tl1e months of June and July in Ne\v York. These ,vere days of delight for Lua. Late in June, however, 'Abdu'I-Baha called Lua to Him and broke the news that lie \vanted her to go to California to do some teaching work for the Faith. Lua was frantic. She didn't want to leave Him. She was so eager to be with Him, she \vould frequently forget the lesson of patience \vhich He \-vas trying to teacl1 her. Lua went to see her dear friend Juliet Thompson, 11er fello\v-conspirator in these attempts to be near the Master. Lua explained another of her schemes. She knew tllat 'Abdu'I-Baha had asked Juliet to paint her portrait. Since this ,\vas a portrait which 82. 'Abdu'I-Ba11a had Hitnself requested, it was a \vonderful indication of the great love He had for Lua. Lua's plot revolved around this painting. 'Julie,' she said, 'the 1'iaster has told you to paint n1y portrait. IJlease, dear, tell Ifin:1 that )TOll can't paint my portrait if I an1 in California.' 'He knou/s that.' 'But if you remind 1-li111, perhaps He'll think it's more important for me to be here \vith Hill1.' 'The itnportant thing,' Juliet said, 'is to be obedient to the lvfaster.' 'I am obedient to the 1rfaster. I'm going to California. But a little later on \vhen I can't possibly be \vith 'Abdu'l-Baha.' 'Lua!' 'Please?' It was impossible for Juliet to refuse Lua when she was so persuasive. So Juliet \vent to the J\faster. She told 'Abdu'l-Baha that she couldn't paint Lua's portrait if Lua \vere far off in California. The Master laughed heartily and told her to tell Lua that she \vould be back in Ne\v York again in a year and that 11er portrait could be painted then. His final instructions \vcre, 'Tell Lua to go to California. ' Juliet delivered this message. Lua sighed, and accepted the inevitable. But she didn't go to California immediately because 'Abdu'l-Bahi was leaving the next day for Montclair, New Jersey, and Lua wanted to go there instead. For just this one last time. r\.fter all, Ne\v Jersey was west of New York and was on the way toward California. 8; 'Come on, Julie,' Lua urged. 'Let's go to Montclair to see 'Abdu'l-Baha!' Juliet \-vas shocked. 'But we can't do that, Lua,' she told her friend. '\\le haven't been invited. Besides, \ve have to go-I mean you have to go to California. ' 'But we have a perfect excuse,' Lua insisted. '\"'" ou have all the proofs of those recent p11otographs which were taken of 'Abdu'l-Baha. He should see them so that He can approve of them.' 'Do you real!J think so?' Juliet asked. She was beginning. to \veaken herself. Lua \vas very persuasIve. 'Of course, dear,' Lua assured her. And off they went to lVfontclair together.

The 1vlaster looked at the photographs, but He didn't look at Lua.

2 I. TIle Faith Is Establislled in America Lua began to think tl1at 'Abdu'l-Baha would never look at her again. At least not until she "vent to California. Still, she wouldn't be Lua if she failed to make one last gallant attempt to remain in the East witll her beloved Master. I~ua was obedient to the ~faster in all things except this longing desire never to leave Him during His visit to America. The Persian Baha'is in 'Abdu'l-Baha's party were displeased with Lua because she didn't leave immediately for California. 'fo them such a delay was unthinkable. 'Abdu'l-Baha with His sin-covering eye must often have been distressed by the lack of response even on the part of those who loved Him to arise to teach. 'If the friends of God listen to my first word,' He said, 'they will find the success of this world and of the next world therein. But there are some who prefer their o\vn thoughts above mine, and when they fall they beg me to save them. Progress and prosperity are jn the first word. For example, should I say to so and so, "Go thou to America," and he should reply, "I beg to remain a few days more," I give him permission to do as lle wishes. But this is not my thought; it is his thought.' 'Abdu'l-Baha, however, did not give Lua permission to stay. He insisted on her leaving for California. It was a match of "\vits and love, and Lua of course kne\v from the first that her beloved Master would win. She \vas only to@ well aware of her shortcomings as, on that occasion, were many of her fellow-Baha,'is. They were annoyed and some were very put out with her. 'Abdu'l-Baha was tender and patient. Perhaps because Lua had arisen to teach. She had gone to America at the 11aster's bidding, although with plaintive reluctance. She had travelled from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean. She had addressed a huge meeting in San Diego, on the deck of the United States battleship California, the flagship of the fleet. She had encouraged a fellow- Baha'i and helped to inspire him to open up an entire continent. She had inspired another believer to offer a gift of land \vhich began one of the first Ba.ha'i schools in .Lt\merica. She had set ablaze another precious soul who opened up still another continent to the Faith. Her spiritual cllildren were enlisting in the 'radiant army' of Baha'u'llah on every side. t-fhey ,\vere 31110ng the staunchest and lllost devoted 'soldiers' of the Covenant. No doubt this dedication out'\vcighed ller human frailties, and captured the 1{aster's heart. It \vas retniniscent of the story of 1Vlary who so loved Christ that she anointed His precious feet with a \\~hole pound of very costly ointment. It displeased SOine of His followers. Especially Judas Iscariot, "\vho betrayed fiim, objected, saying it should be sold and the tnoney given to the poor. Christ replied that Mary had saved this gift of love because He "rould soon leave then1. 'For the poor always ye llave \vith you; but ll1e ye have not al,-vays.' It is always n10re inlportant to please God than to please one's fellO\v-believers.

'Abdu'l-Baha's next visit ,vas to Teaneck, Ne\v Jersey, to a property that became known itl Baha'i history as Evergreen Cabul. 'Abdu'1-13al1a invited all the Baha'is to join Him in a large unity Feast. 1"1·his event has been commemorated every year since, even to the current day, as one of the happiest of Ba11i'i occasions, and the single official annual commemoration of His visit. Yes, 'Abdu'l-Baha also inv-ited Lua. Slle \vas delighted, but to her chagrin she soon realized that, immediately the Feast ,vas over) 'Abdu'l-Baha still expected her to leave for California. Lua \vas lost in the "\-vonder of His presence on that history-making occasion. During that 'Unity Feast' held on June 29th, 1912, 'Abdu'l-Baha made it plain that the Faith of Baha'u'llah had, on that date, truly been established in America. \Ve can s11are through Lua's eyes the exciten1ent that stirred each of those American Baha'is who heard 'Abdu'l-Baha's voice that day. \Ve can see Him yet, standing amidst the tall dark pines on that emerald green lawn. TIle scent of pine and the soft needles beneatll the trees, the fragrant air and blue skies, made it a heavenly day. So many were the flowers which His loved ones had brought that they overflowed onto the grass, and it appeared as though the very eartll beneath His feet had been embroidered into a multicoloured green carpet. 'This assembly,' 'Abdu'l-Baha told them on tllat unforgettable day, 'has a name and significance which will last forever. Hundreds of thousands of meetings shall be held to commemorate this occasion and the very ,vords I speak to you today shall be repeated in them for ages to come. Therefore be ye rejoiced for ye are sheltered beneath the providence of God. Be happy and joyous because the bestowals of God are intended for you and the life of the Holy Spirit is breathing upon you ... for you are the ones who are called to uplift the cause of unity among the D,ations of the earth . . .' Many of the seeds sown that day "\vere to blosson1 in a later age. 1\rIany of those listening ,\vere to arise and become 'lions of the Covenant of Baha'u'lhih'. Certainly Lua was among them.

When the Unity Feast was over, Lua discovered that she had a bad case of poison-ivy. She was overjoyed. The distress and swelling were such as to incapacitate her-especially for long-distance traveL She immediately notified her friend Juliet about her delightful affliction. Miss Thompson came at once to Lua's hotel room. Juliet took one look at Lua's s\vollen ankles and said, 'It's a punishment.' 'No, it's a reward.' Juliet was insistent. 'It's a test.' Lua said, 'It's guidance.' Juliet was not convinced. 'Please, Julie,' Lua begged. 'Go to the Master and tell Him my feet are all swollen up with poisonivy, that I can't even walk. So I can't possibly leave for California until the poison-ivy is gone.' Reluctantly Juliet carried the message. The Master laughed again. '1 will cure Lua,' He said. On the table near-by "vas a pot of cold tea. 'Abdu'l-Bahi pointed to it. 'G-ive Lua a drink from this pot of tea,' He said. Juliet returned to Lua "\vith the tea. Lua was obedient and drank it to the last drop. In the late afternoon the Master came to visit her. 'Now,' He said laughing, 'you are well, Lua. You can leave for California.' With a mischievous twinkle, He added, 'I cured you "\vith a cup of cold tea.' After 'Abdu'l-Baha had gone, Juliet rose from her chair, picked up Lua's empty teacup and, standing where the :NIaster had stood, looked first into the teacup and then at Lua. With the same mischievous t\vinkle that had lighted 'Abdu'l-Baha's eyes, Juliet said: 'I see by the tea-leaves in your cup t11at you are going to go on a long journey!'

One account of this incident reported that 'Abdu'l-Baha sent Lua an apple and a pomegranate to eat, and that she gravely, steadily and thoroughly che\ved them down to the last morsel: swallowing her 'cure' in which lay the seeds of her own defeat. Another declared that it was an apple and a glass of pomegranate juice. Lua's sister who had heard Lua laugh over the story many times insisted that it was a cup of cold tea. Perhaps it was all three. One thing is certain, and all agree, Lua was cured, and couldn't think of another reason for not going to California. She had been cured both ounvardly and inwardly. And to her intense delight, the journey turned out to be a blessing. 'Abdu'l-Bahi had sent her on ahead to prepare the way. Soon He and His party joined her in California.

22. From the Ho!y Land to the Golden Gate

'Abdu'l-Baha stayed in America eight months. He travelled from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean and back. He spoke in both Canada and the United States, proclaiming His Father's Faith. 'Abdu'l-Baha's trip across America, undertaken at an age of nearly seventy, covered over five thousand miles. He spoke before all sizes and types of audience. These talks have filled t\VO volumes. David Starr Jordan, the IJresident of Stanford University, introduced 111m in these words: , 'Abdu'l-Balui \vill surely unite the East and the \Vest: for He treads the mystic way \vith practical feet.' An account of the travels of 'Abdu'l-Baha would be a volume in itself! 111 New York City alone He delivered public addresses and made formal visits to no less than fifty-five places. He \vas engaged in spreading Baha'u'llah's 1fessage of fellowship and love from early da\vn until late at night. In view of the constant and concentrated travels of 'Abdu'l-Baha in North America, how pathetic sound those excuses of the people in the West who repeatedly asked Lua, 'Why haven't I heard about the Baha'i FaitI1 before? It sounds wonderful, but it's all so new.' Lua told them frankly that it vvasn't new at all. It had begun nearly three-quarters of a century before. She explained that Baha'u'llah had written to the kings and rulers of the world in His day. She told them all the \vonderful truths she had learned from 'Abdu'l-Baha: How Baha'u'llih had addressed the 11eads of Christianity, Judaism and Islam. He also directed a special Message to the 'elected representatives' of the peoples in all countries. Baha'u'lhih proclaimed, in the clearest terms, His Mission as the return of Christ, the Promised One foretold in all holy Books. lIe offered ample proof to support His claim. Baha'u'lhih wrote separate lvfessages to kings, emperors, and ministers of state in both the East and the West. I-Ie addressed the presidents and rulers of the Republics of the Western world, including the President of the United States. Baha'u'llah directed His Teachings to leaders in the intellectual, political, literary, 1nystical, commercial and hutuanitarian spheres of activity. lIe sent a special Letter to the Pope in Rome. He directed separate 1\Iessages to tlle entire hierarchy of Christianity: the patriarchs, the archbishops, tIle bishops, the monks, the priests, and the people of Christianity. For nearly a quarter of a century, Baha'u'lhih's Pen never ceased proclaiming to all humanity that the day so long a\vaited by all the great religions, the day of the one fold and one shepherd, had at last arrived .

.2 3. A Standing Ovation for tIle Herald of Peace What was it that' Abdu'l-Baha told the peoples of the West that enabled Him to 'recreate' so many of them, and lay the foundation for an enduring kingdom? What ,vas the Call that 'Abdu'l-Baha urged Lua and her fellow-believers to raise in every land? Perhaps we shall understand their passionate devotion to Him and their remarkable zeal, if we examine, however briefly, the fundamental Teachings which 'Abdu'l-Baha stressed during those months in America. In God Passes By there is a lnoving account of these matchless journeys. Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Baha'i Fait11 and 'Abdu'l-Baha's grandson, sumn1arizes His potent Message to the people residing in the materialistic West. While 'Abdu'l-Bahi "\vas teaching the \vorld, He \vas also deepening the kno\vledge of His own followers. 'It was in the course of these epoch-making journeys and before large and representative audiences, at times exceeding a thousand people, that 'Abdu'l-Baha expounded, with brilliant simplicity, with persuasiveness and force, and for the first time in His Ministry, those basic and distinguishing principles of His Father's Faith ... ' These teachings, Shoghi Effendi declared, 'together \vith the la\vs and ordinances revealed in [Baha'u'lhih's Most Holy Book] constitute the bedrock of God's latest Revelation to mankind'. The Guardian then listed the most outstanding of the teachings of 'Abdu'l-Bahi which, after Him, Lua and her fellow-disciples were to proclaim in every state and province: 'The independent search after truth, unfettered by superstition or tradition; the oneness of t11e entire human race, the pivotal principle and fundamental doctrine of the Faith; the basic unity of all religions; the condemnation of all forms of prejudice, \vhether religious, racial, class or national; the harmony \vhich must exist between religion and science; the equality of men and women, the two \vings on "\vhich the bird of human kind is able to soar; the introduction of compulsory education; the adoption of a universal auxiliary language; the abolition of the extremes of wealth and poverty; the institution of a world tribunal for the adjudication of disputes between nations; the exaltation of \-vork, performed in the spirit of service, to the rank of worship; the glorification of justice as the ruling principle in human society, and of religion as a bulwark for the protection of all peoples and nations; and the establishment of a permanent and universal peace as the supreme goal of all mankind -these stand out as the essential elements of that Divine polity \vhich He proclaimed to leaders of public thought as well as to the masses at large in the course of these missionary journeys.'

'Abdu'l-Baha also dealt with the current problems facing society. He predicted the inevitable coming of the First World War. He later warned about the coming of the Second World War. He said they were inevitable because mankind had failed to accept and enforce Baha'u'llah's Teachings. Baha'u'llah was the Messenger of God for this day, the Lawgiver and Guide, but the world had turned a deaf ear. It was no\v paying the price, and the sufferings were only beginning. During tl10se travels 'Abdu'l-Baha foretold the grave racial strife whicl1 would shatter the peace and well-being of America. There \-vas only one remedy, He said. Her people must immediately put into practice Baha'u'llah's Teachings on the oneness and complete equality of all races. Blood would run in the streets of American cities if these healing principles were not used to prevent this tragedy. 'Abdu'l-Baha foreshadowed the radical changes that \vould take place in Eut-ope. He \varned that if the statesmen did not unite to prevent it, the entire continent would be set ablaze. He anticipated the terrible persecution of tlle Jews on European soil. 'Abdu'l-Baha talked to Presidents, Prime lvfinisters, Cabinet members, Mayors, Governors, Senators, Congressmen, members of Parliament, military leaders, religious leaders of all faiths. 'Every morning,' one of 'Abdu'l-Baha's follo\vers has related, 'according to 1-1is custom, the 11aster expounded the principles of the teaching of Baha'u'llih to those \vho gathered around Him, the learned and the unlearned, eager and respectful.' People of all nationalities, creeds and backgrounds came to talk with Him. They came from East and West. They \vere theosophists, agnostics, atheists, materialists, spiritualists, Christian Scientists, social reformers, militants, Hindus, Sufis, lYluslims, Buddhists, Zoroastrians, Christians, Jews, church dignitaries, ambassadors, pashas, nobility and peasants. There \vas no end to it. 'Abdu'l-Baha sat at breakfast with the Lord 11ayor of London. I-Ie wrote in the Bible of the City Temple of London, 'This book is the holy Book of God'. He addressed an overflowing congregation at St. John's, Westminster. The Bishop's chair was placed in a position of honour for Him. The Prisoner, the exile, the despised, the One they had threatened to crucify on the gates of 'Akka, was being acclaimed on all sides. He spoke to presidents of universities, to Admiral Peary, Alexander Graham Bell, Theodore Roosevelt, Rabbi Stephen Wise, Hudson Maxim the arms manufacturer, Andre\v Carnegie, and to the destitute in the Bo\,very district of New York. On several occasions, 'Abdu'l-Baha spoke before as many as three and four gatherings in one day, addressing two and three thousand listeners who followed \vith keen eagerness His every word. One day 'Abdu'l-Baha entered a Congregational Church in Chicago. The Rector of the church told the packed audience that he had been making plans to go to 'Akka to meet 'Abdu'l-Baha, when news came that the Master was en route to America. 'Today,' the Rector said, 'God has conferred a great blessing upon us. 'Abdu'l-Ba11a is here \vith us.' The Rector then introduced Him as a beloved 'Herald of Peace'. When 'Abdu'l-Baha came to the pulpit, the audience rose in unison, and something unique in the history of that Protestant church took place. Although they were inside the church, the audience was so caught up in the spirit of His presence that they greeted 'Abdu'l-Baha with loud and prolonged cheers, until the walls of the building reverberated. Such was His effect upon those who saw Him.

24. The Flame Ignltes Many Fires Lua, as well as the other heroes and heroines of those early days, witnessed many such scenes of unforgettable beauty, majesty and tenderness as 'Abdu'l-Baha 'recreated' the spirits of the receptive believers He met. He kindled fresh fires of devotion and dedication in the hearts of almost all whom He encountered on His incredible American journeys. He was always on the move. 'Abdu'l-Baha addressed peace conferences in several States. He spoke to students and professors at Columbia, Stanford, Ho"\vard and Ne\v York universities. He participated in the fourth annual conference of the National ~Association for the Advancement of the Colored People. 'Abdu'l-Baha fearlessly asserted the truth of the prophetic mission of Jesus Christ before no less than t"\vo thousand Jews assembled in the Temple Emmanu-EI, a Jewish synagogue in San Francisco. He boldly championed the mission of Mul;amlnad before packed audiences in Protestant churches. He courageously upheld the divine character of the mission of Moses. He empllasized the oneness of all the Messengers of God. With characteristic vigour and courage He proclaimed Baha'u'llah's Teachings on the complete equality of the races; not in 'tolerance' which is negative, but in the equality of opportunity for all races in every field of human endeavour, and in all parts of the world without exception. 'Abdu'l-Baha Himself demonstrated the sincerity of Baha'u'lhih's principle of the 'oneness of mankind' by His own encouragement of, and participation in, an interracial marriage of Baha'is. He 'united two of l-lis followers' of different nationalities and races. Louis G. Gregory, a Negro, was married to Louise Matthews of the white race. 'Abdu'l-Bahi highly praised such marriages between the races, saying: 'If it be possible, gather together these t\VO races, black and wl1ite, into one assembly, and put such love into their hearts that they shall not only unite but even intermarry. Be sure that the results of this '\vill abolis11 differences and disputes between black and white. IYforeover, by the Will of God, may it be so. This is a great service to humanity.' Louis G. Gregory ,\vas one of the early coworkers of Lua. This brilliant American Negro Baha'i and teacher served as a member of the National Spiritual .t\ssembly of the Baha'is of the United States, the highest elective post to which any Baha'i can attain in his own area. At the time of his death, a cablegram ,\vas sent to the entire Baha'i \vorld by Shoghi Effendi, World Head of the Baha'i Faith, praising this colleague of Lua as the dearly loved, 'noble-minded, golden-hearted Louis Gregory, pride (and) example' to all. The Baha'i \vorld \vas told that he, Louis Gregory, occupied a 'unique position' because of his dedicated services and that the 'rising Baha'i generation (in the) African continent' would glory in his memory. 'Abdu'l-Baha also paid a touching tribute to Thornton Chase, the first Baha'i in America. He visited the grave of Mr Chase in Inglewood, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. This was a special 'pilgrimage' by 'Abdu'l-Baha to the last resting-place of the very first soul to embrace the Cause of Baha'u'lhlh in the West. 'Abdu'l-Baha stopped beside the grave without asking directions, praised the green verdure and flowers. He stood silent a few minutes, then taking the bouquet of flowers which had been brought with Him, He adorned the grave with His own hands, with a love, tenderness and affection that touched every heart. 'Abdu'l-Baha faced the Holy Land and chanted the Tablet of Visitation, a prayer read at the tomb of Baha'u'llah. He then spoke about the nobility, sacrifice and dedication of Thornton Chase, and before leaving, bowed to kiss the gravestone. Lua, looking on, was but one of many who longed to attain such a station, such a place in the heart of the Master. Thornton Chase, the first to accept Baha'u'llah in the West, and one of the first to lay down his life as a Baha'i and consecrate the soil of the American continent, had spent five memorable days on pilgrimage as 'a prisoner' with 'Abdu'l-Baha. Now that pilgrimage was repaid. Thornton Chase had been in the forefront of the battle since 1894, the year both he and Lua embraced the Faith. They exemplified words which 'Abdu'l-Baha had spoken to a Western pilgrim: 'The general does not love most the man in the back of the ranks. He loves most the man in front. If you knew the value of these days, you would not eat, you would not sleep, you would not walk. You would run and give to all the Glad Tidings!' These words described the final years of Lua's life. She increased her pace. She added new continents to her list of battle-fronts. In the happiness of serving 'Abdu'l-Baha she did indeed 'run' in all directions to give the Glad Tidings. In the joy of the year of 1912, Lua, so full of youth, vitality and eagerness, never dreamed that so little time "vas left to her; that in four short years, in the midst of a world war, she would be struck down, a martyr.

25. 'I appolnt YOt!-, Lila, as a Herald of the Covenant!' \Vhen the friends urged the Master to rest and conserve His energy, He told them that sometimes material rest could rob man of spiritual rest. The time "vas short, the hours precious. Whenever He thought of setting down His burden of work, 'Abdu'I-BaI1a said He could hear the voice of His beloved Father, Baha'u'llah, calling to Him: 'March! MarchI' In the midst of this endless activity, 'Abdu'l- Baha reluctantly agreed to the constantly repeated request of the believers that fIe permit Juliet Thompson to paint His portrait. Miss Thompson has recorded her memory of that first sitting in her studio in New York City. 'Never shall I forget that day the Master was posing for His portrait. He said to Lua, "This makes me sleepy." 'I said, "Tell the 11aster to go to sleep, Lua. I can paint Him while He sleeps." 'The Master closed His eyes. He sat perfectly upright, still as a statue. I was so awed that I could not paint. Suddenly His eyes flashed open. It seemed to me that the room shook as He began to speak. I "vas shattered by His power as He unveiled to our eyes the meaning of "The Covenant of God".' During those awe-inspiring moments 'Abdu'l- Bahi explained the great Covenant that God made with mankind. He said that God \vill never forget man, but will al\vays, from tin1e to time, send do\vn a Prophet to guide him. Moses was such a Prophet. So was Christ. l\nd Nlu1}ammad. So \vas Bahi'u'llih. 'Abdu'l-Bahi spoke of the great Covenant of Bahi'u'llih, God's Prophet for this day. He told them of Bahi'u'lhih's \Xlill and Testament, \vritten in Bahi'u'llih's own hand, which appointed Hin1, 'Abdu'l-Baha, to be the Centre of His Faith to Whom all should turn. In that city of New York, 'Abdu'l-Baha spoke many times of th.e Covenant of God. It was the strong rope to \vhich all believers could cling, confident that no human power could divide, dismember or break up the Baha'i Faith in the future. The enemies of this Cause, both "vithin and without the Faith, would take their axes to chop at the roots of this sacred Covenant, but the blades \vould break off in their hands, the scars would heal over, and the Faith of Baha'u'llih would go on un~ impaired and undivided, unlike the religions of the past which succumbed to division and sects. In New York, during His visit, 'Abdu'l-Baha read before a general assembly of follo"\vers, Baha'u'llah's ne\vly translated Tablet of the Branch, in which Bahi'tl'llih had clearly and emphatically appointed 'Abdu'l-Bahi as His Successor. New York City 'henceforth became designated as the City of the Covenant'. We can itnagine the impact of 'Abdu'l-Baha's words upon such a prepared channel as Lua. 'Abdu'l-Bahi's words unfolded before the eyes of both Lua and Juliet a fresh vision of the greatness of the Baha'i Faith. '-fhey realized in a flash that this glorious Message was not for the Baha'is alone. It was for all mankind. They began to understand better just Who Baha'u'llah was. There "\vould never be any doubt in their minds that the Promised One for all mankind had appeared on earth in their day, and that His Name ,vas Baha'u'llah. They \vere now standing before His Son, spellbound and enraptured by His words. Lua and Juliet both were to tell that moving story many times-how they were captivated by His voice, transported to another world. Juliet found herself still staring at her empty canvas. She had not touched her brush to it. The magnitude of the meaning of the words spoken by 'Abdu'l-Baha paralyzed the women. They dared not look upon His face, they said. The light was blinding I The very walls vibrated! If ever human beings had heard the Voice of God on earth speaking through a perfect channel, they felt that they had heard it that wondrous day. They admitted their inability to recapture the moment or to describe it. All either of them could do \vas to make a feeble attempt to describe the mystery of \vhat took place. Human language was entirely inadequate. Several times, they said, they were both on the verge of fainting away. '\Vhen I finally became aware of my surroundings,' Juliet recalled, 'I could hear the soft sobbing of Lua. Poor LuaI She had scarcely recovered fronl the awesome majesty of what had just taken place, ,vhen the ~faster looked directly into her eyes and proclaimed: , "I appoint you, Lua, as a Herald of the Covenant. Go forth and proclaim this truth!" 'Lua's tears vanished. She stood before us transfigured. In that moment I realized the great station to which she had been called by the Master. She was a flame of God I Like lnetal put into the fire, all that had been the Lua of the past was burned away, and she had no,v taken on the characteristics of the fire. , "Recreate me, 0 beloved Master!" she cried, "that I may truly herald Thy Faith." 'Then Lua looked at me. She could see the tears that filled my eyes. She did not know that they were being shed in happiness at the wonder and beauty of the scene I had been privileged to ,vitness. She thought that my spirit was feeling deprived. Out of the tenderness of her heart, she turned to the Master and pleaded gently. , "Julie wants to be recreated, too." ,

26. Mother-teacher of the West When 'Abdu'l-Baha arrived in New York I-Ie said to His follo~vers: 'This long voyage will prove how great is my love for you. There \vere many troubles and vicissitudes, but in the thought of meeting you, all these things vanished . . .' Upon leaving thcn1 eight months later, I-lis back-breaking labour completed, 'Abdu'l-Baha declared: '~rhis is 1ny last nleeting with you, for no\v I am on the ship ready to sail a\vay. These are my final \vords of ex110rtation. I have repeatedly summoned you to the cause of the unity of the \vorld of humanity, announcing that all mankind are the servants of the same God; that God is the creator of all ... Therefore you must manifest the greatest kindness and love to\)/ard the nations of the world, setting aside fanaticism, abandoning religious, national and racial prejudice ... Direct your whole effort to\vard tl1e happiness of those \.vho are despondent, bcsto\v food upon the hungry, clothe tl1e needy and glorify the l1umble.' 'l\bdu'I-Baha expected great things of those early lleroines and heroes suc11 as Lua and May and others \vhose names have beC01TIC legends. 'I l1ave planted the seeds in Anlcrica,' 'Abdu'l- Baha told them. 'You tTIust nurture thenl and care for them. If you do this, they will yield an abundant harvest ... You must arise '\vith superhuman strength to spread the l-ieachings, for the Cause is great; and whosoever shall arise in this day to teach, know that he will be assisted by the Divine Concourse ... It is the Day of the proclamation of the I<ingdom! . . . Erelong this Call shall yield the most glorious results and \vill fill the \vorld with its fruits.' 10 3 The Baha'is of this present generation are no"v harvesting in every part of the globe the seeds planted by those pioneer-teachers in the days when 'Abdu'l-Baha \valked the streets of America. We begin to understand the 'flame' that burned within Lua until she "vas consumed by the fire and hea t of that Call. These all too brief glin1pses of the visit of 'Abdu'l- Baha to America, \'vhich set ablaze Lua's heart and directed her future course, above all help us to grasp . the deep significance of those apostolic Journeys. Shoghi Effendi has put these travels into their proper historic perspective: "Abdu'l-Baha's historic journeys to the West,' he wrote, 'and in particular His eight-month tour of the United States of America, may be said to have marked the culmination of His ministry, a ministry \vhose untold blessings and stupendous achievements only future generations can adequately estimate.' This journey enabled 'Abdu'l-Baha to complete triumphantly the last of the three most important objectives of His entire ministry: (I) erecting the Shrine for the sacred remains of the precious Bab, (2) inspiring and initiating the construction of the first Baha'i House of Worship in 'Ishqabad, Russian rfurkistan, and (3) planting the banner of His Father's Faith permanently in the soil of the West. The last objective, Shoghi Effendi has told us, was the most important of all. It was a 'three-year-long mission to the Western world-a mission so momentous that it deserves to rank as the greatest exploit ever to be associated \vith His ministry'. Lua lived in those days and was privileged to \vitness the fulfilment of all three of these objectives, and the triumphs of her beloved Nlaster. Lua was a girl of but twenty-t\VO when she first heard of the Baha'i Faith; she was still in her t\venties when she "vent on her unforgettable first visit to 'Abdu'l-Baha; and she \vas in the full tide of her youthful beauty and eloquence when the Master came to America to complete the third, and crowning, triumph of His ministry. The flame which tIle 11aster had kindled in Lua's lleart would set ablaze other fires all over America, and would win for her the title 'mother-teacher of the West'.

27. 'Oh, Bahd'tt'lldh! What hast Thou done?' To Lua, the final week of 'Abdu'l-Baha's visit to America vanished as quickly as a mist before the sun. The joy of those days would soon be over. But what days of victory they had been. Shoghi Effendi has captured the poignant contrast between those times of American triumph and 'Abdu'l-Baha's early sufferings and persecution. The l\/faster's American followers, for years to come, \vould radiate the happiness and wonder of the hours He had shared with them. 'Abdu'l-Baha, I-limself, must have been stirred to His depths by the ever-increasing signs of the respect being shown to His Father's Faith. 'Who knows what lnemories stirred within Him,' 8hoghi Effendi writes of his beloved Grandfather, 10 5 'as He stood before the thundering \vaters of Niagara, breathing the free air of a far distant land, or gazed, in the course of a brief and much-needed rest, upon the green \voods and countryside in Glenvvood Springs, or nloved \vith a retinue of Oriental believers along the paths of the Trocadero gardens in Paris, or \valked alone in the evening beside the majestic Hudson on Riverside Drive in Nc\v York, or as He paced the terrace of the Hotel du Pare at Thonon-Ies-Bains, overlooking the Lake of Geneva, or as lIe \vatched from Serpentine Bridge in London the pearly chain of lights beneat11 the trees stretching as far as the eye could see? 1Iemories of the sorrows, the poverty, the overhanging doanl of His earlier years; memories of His nl0ther \vho sold her gold buttons to provide 11im, His brother and His sister \vith sustenance, and who \vas forced, in her darkest hours, to place a handful of dry flour in the palm of I-lis hand to appease His llunger; of 11is own childhood when pursued and derided by a mob of rumans in the streets ofTihran; of the danlp and gloon1Y room, formerly a morgue, \vhich He occupied in the barracks of 'Akka and of His imprisonment in the dungeon of that citymemories such as t11ese must surely l1ave thronged His mind. Thoughts, too, must have visited Him of t~e Bab's captivity in the mountain fastnesses of Adhirbayjan [Persia], when at night time He \vas refused even a lamp, and of His cruel and tragic execution when hundreds of bullets riddled His youthful breast. Above all His thoughts must have centered on Baha'u'llah, \Vhom He loved so passionately and \Vhose trials He had witnessed and had shared from Ilis boyllood. The vermininfested Sfyah-Chal [prison] of Tihran; the bastinado inflicted upon Him in Amul; the humble fare which filled His kashkul \vhile He [Baha'u'lhih] lived for t\VO years the life of a dervish in the mountains of I{urdistan; the days in Baghdad when He did not even possess a change of linen, and \vhen His [Bahi'u'llah's1 follo\vers subsisted on a handful of dates; I-lis conhnelnent behind the prison-\valls of '.r,\kka, \vhen for nine years even the sight of verdure \vas denied }-1in1; and the public humiliation to \vhich fIe \vas subjected at government headquarters in that city-pictures from the tragic past such as these must have many a tin1e overpowered flim \vith feelings of mingled gratitude and sorro"\v, as He '\vitnessed the many marks of respect, of esteem, and honor now shown Him ['Abdu'l-Baha] and the Faith \vhich he represented.' One evening as I-Ie \vas being driven to fulfil His third engagement in one day, in the nation's capital at \"XTashington, 'Abdu'l-Baha \vas heard to exclaim: '0 Baha'u'llah! \Vhat hast Thou done? 0 Baha'u'llah! 11ay my life be sacrificed for Thee! ... How full were Thy days with trials and tribulations! How severe the ordeals Thou didst endure! How solid the foundation Thou hast finally laid, and ho"\v glorious the banner Thou didst hoist!'

28. Fare1vell to Amerlca The morning of December 5th, 1912, was the day of yet another parting for Lua and her beloved 10 7 Master. The S.S. Celtic lay in the New York harbour ready to carry 'Abdu'l-Baha a\vay from these shores forever. tIe \vas saying fare\vell to all of His American friends. His face \vas a mosaic of beauty. Suddenly a hush calne over the cro\vded deck. Newspaper men, photographers and friends all turned their gaze on that one lone figure. In the silence, all that could be heard was the sound of distant ships, the occasional blast of a tug whistle, the distant rush of the great city, and the cry of the birds. Then the :iYfaster began to speak. The following eye\,vitness account of these last minutes aboard the Celtic \vas \'vritten by an American clergyman of the Unitarian Church, Howard Colby Ives. So great \vas the spiritual impact of his meeting with 'Abdu'l-Baha, so intense ,,"vas the love \'vhich the 11aster kindled in his l1eart, that he left his church, and dedicated the remaining days of his life to teaching the Faith of Baha'u'llah. For the last time in America, I-Io\,vard Ives later wrote, that wonderful voice resounded across the deck of the S.S. Celtic: 'When the Master had finished speaking,' Ives recorded, 'He requested all present to con1e to Him that He might take their hands in a parting expression of love. How impressive that scene! How filled with a significance beyond words to express. The Master's majestic yet tender figure stood framed in the great circle of flowers with which the friends had surrounded Him as their parting gifts. Ho\,v fragrant and beautiful it \,vas with its atmosphere of a world far removed from that of the sordid material world \vhich encircled us on every side. 'We slowly passed in front of him. To each He gave a handful of flowers, bestowing the last of the flowers upon the very last friend. To each 'Abdu'l- Baha spoke a few \vords of love and encouragement.' For a still, still moment, the ship was a silent island as the friends looked longingly for the last time upon that \vonderful face. The quiet rapture of that moment was shattered by a cry that stabbed every heart, 'All visitors ashore!' No one wanted to be the first to leave. Each one tried to be among the very last to go do"\vn the gangplank. The friends gathered on the \vharf. They looked up at the figure of their Master as the ship slowly moved out into the great river. The sun broke through the clouds like a giant searchlight from heaven flooding the deck. 'Abdu'l-Baha stood at the rail. His silvery "\vhite hair and beard moved gently in the breeze. 1-lis erect, tnajestic figure was outlined clearly against the sky. Farther and farther He was drawing away from them. Everyone of them could feel the pull of his heart toward the ship "\vith its precious cargo. As 1-Ie moved slowly out of their sight, it seemed to those lonely, heart-broken onlookers as though the sun had ceased to shine and all of the birds had stopped their singing.

'Abdu'l-Baha looked back at that great stone city with its man-made mountains crowding the sky. Who \vill ever kno\v the thoughts that filled His heart as the ship dre\v a\vay from America. He, 'Abdu'l-Baha, after forty years as a prisoner, had at long last fulfilled the prophecy His Father had made so many years before. Baha'u'llah had told Him that one day He would raise His voice in the \V'estern vlorld to summon its people to God. Every victory, every unexpected door that opened, 'Abdu'l-Baha attributed to Baha'u'llih, not to I-limself. 1-1is Blessed l~ather had sustained and inspired Him at every step along that arduous p3th. No\v it ""vas finished! F'inishedl Perhaps 'Abdu'l-Baha's lips n10ved in a quiet prayer of thanksgiving: 'God is 1\:10st Glorious! God is j\!fost G-lorious l'

Part V

IN HIS FOOTSTEPS 2.9. The Flame Spreads to Other Lands For many long months Lua was separated from her beloved Master by an ocean. She prayed each day that she might be made worthy to serve Him. One day when she returned home depressed with her lack of accomplishment in the pathway of the Cause of God, a letter was awaiting her. It was postmarked Palestine! The moment Lua touched it, she felt an 'inner prompting' toward some great event. It held an exciting assignment from 'Abdu'l- Baha. Just as 'Abdu'l-Baha had sailed from the East to the West to spread the Faith, He now summoned Lua to travel from West to East to do the same thing. He called upon Lua to carry the Message of Baha'u'lhih to India. She obeyed immediately. When her assignment was completed, Lua, to her complete joy, returned not to America but to the Holy Land to be in the presence of the Master. She had successfully accomplished her mission. Whatever 'Abdu'l-Baha wanted undertaken, Lua was prompt to volunteer. The Master praised Lua's work in India and wrote to the West of her victories. Because of her ceaseless teaching and travelling, particularly in Europe and America where she planted the flag of the Faith in many hearts, the Master proclaimed her 'The Banner'. Lua 'often sat at that 'blessed table' in the Holy Land. She sat at the feet of the Master and drank in as much as she could contain from the ocean of His wisdom. Following her teaching victories in India, Lua remained for seven months in the presence of her beloved Master.

On one occasion it is said that the Master told Lua that Baha'u'lhih had chosen her for His work when she was but a little girl on the farm. He also said that in the days to come, her home in Hume, New York, would be a place of pilgrimage. And some time in the future, thousands would one day journey to that farm in upper New York where she had once run barefoot as a child. 'Abdu'l-Baha showered her with such kindness and love that Lua felt her life had been too richly blessed with happiness. She felt an increasing need of participating in some of the suffering which had been the lot of 'Abdu'l-Baha for half a century. His whole life had been a living martyrdom. Within Lua there now grew a great longing to share this martyrdom. After all, she was one of the 'spiritual descendants' of those heroic Dawn-Breakers of the Faith in Persia. More than twenty thousand of them had given their lives and stained the sands of Persia red with blood. Of what value was one small life ? Lua's spirit hungered, not to weep away its life in drops but, like a giant sky-rocket, to spill its treasures to the night in some great sudden sacrifice that might win new glories for the Faith. Lua went to the Master and asked Him if He would permit her to become a martyr. The account of her constant pleading is told movingly and amusingly in the diary of Dr Yunis I(han Afrukhtih, a secretary of'Abdu'l-Baha in those days. So eagerly did Lua desire to become a martyr to her Faith that she enlisted the help of some of the friends in the Holy Land. Lua could no longer call upon her dear friend Juliet Thompson to plead with the Master, so she used her eloquence and charm to try and influence some of the Persian Baha'is who were with 'Abdu'l- Baha to intercede for her. Those who refused to intercede, she asked to pray in the holy Shrines that she might be privileged to die for the Faith. When 'Abdu'l-Baha heard her first request, he laughed with enjoyment. He looked upon her with much tenderness and love. When Lua persisted in her request, 'Abdu'l-Baha became silent and would not answer her. Finally, Lua entreated no more. She wrote to some of 11er friends in America and spoke laughingly herself of her own intensity at this time. She said, 'I made such a nuisance of myself with everyone, in my great desire to give my life for the Faith, that eventually every one of the friends was earnestly praying that I might in truth be granted my request, and the sooner the better.'

30. Following in His Footsteps One of the deepest longings of Lua's life was that some day she might be permitted to follow in the Master's footsteps, even if only for the shortest distance. There is a touching story told in pilgrims' notes, although we could not find the original to substantiate it, which tells of the day that Lua was walking with 'Abdu'l-Baha and some of the friends on the white sands of the sea near 'Akka. Lua, it is said, suddenly became aware of the Master's tracks in the soft sand. She was walking a pace or two behind Him. Quite spontaneously she stepped behind 'Abdu'l-Bahi and began to trace His footsteps by placing her shoes one at a time in each of His footprints. Perhaps it is only a fable, as Lua soon became a legend in her own time, and it is difficult to sort fact from fiction, but there is a lesson we all can learn from the story, whatever its origin. Without turning, 'Abdu'l-Bahi said sharply, 'What are you doing?' Lua replied cheerily, 'I am following in your footsteps. ' 'Abdu'l-Bahi was silent for some time. Then He repeated more forcefully, 'Lua, what are you doing?' She said, 'I am walking in your footsteps, beloved Master.' Without a word, 'Abdu'l-Bahi strode on. Lua, it is said, felt a chill as she realized the utter futility and presumptuousness of such a weak instrument as herself ever daring to aspire to walk in the footsteps of the 'Mystery of God'. Suddenly Lua felt an agonizing pain in her ankle. She looked down. She had been stung by a scorpion. She cried out, but the Master did not turn or slow His stride. Lua walked on \vith the utmost difficulty. Her ankle was swelling rapidly. The pain was becoming intense. But she clenched her teeth and forced herself to continlle. When the suffering had become almost unbearable, 'Abdu'l-Baha turned and came back. 'This,' He told her, 'is what it means to walk in my footsteps.' 'Abdu'l-Baha touched her head gently with His hand. Lua's eyes were brimming with tears. She understood the lesson. The Master turned and continued on His way, Lua limping after Him as best she could. She felt the pain gradually diminishing as she tried to keep up with her beloved Master.

It was at this time that one of the Baha'is staying in the Holy Land told Lua the story of a youthful Baha'i named 'Abdu'l-Vahhab. He, too, had longed earnestly to walk in the footsteps of his Beloved. About this story there could be no doubt, for it was verified by the Pen of Baha'u'lhih Himself. Lua listened with enraptured interest.

'Abdu'l-Vahhab was from Shiraz. When he was living in Ka?imayn, his love for Baha'u'llah became so overpowering that he left home and followed Bahi'u'llah to Tihran. He longed to be in Baha'u'llah's presence once more. 'Abdu'l-Vahhib yearned to walk in the footsteps of his Beloved. Before 'Abdu'l-Vahhab arrived in Tihran, Baha'u'llah had been seized and arrested. Although history proved Him to be innocent of any wrongdoing, Baha'u'llah was paraded bareheaded, barefooted, and in chains for miles under the blazing sun. His hat was knocked off and His garments stripped from His body. He was stoned along the route. He was beaten by the mounted guards who escorted Him to prison. Finally they cast Him into a black sunless pit underground. There He was chained to the floor. His feet were put in stocks. His shoulders were weighted down by a huge heavy one-hundred-pound chain which tore His flesh and scarred Him for life. When 'Abdu'l-Vahhab arrived in Tihran . searching for Baha'u'llah, he, too, was arrested as a follower . of this new religion. He was thrown into prIson. 'Abdu'l-Vahhab was heart-broken. His prayers had not been answered. Now he would remain a prisoner or-who knows-perhaps be slain as an innocent victim of prejudice, never again to look upon the face of Baha'u'llah. 'Abdu'l-Vahhab feared that his longing to walk in the footsteps of that Blessed Beauty would never be realized. Surely, God had forsaken him. 'Abdu'l-Vahhab was shoved down the stone steps of the Black Pit prison into that impenetrable darkness. He was chained to the other prisoners. When 'Abdu'l-Vahhab's eyes gradually became accustomed to the darkness, he turned to look at the prisoner beside him. He looked into the eyes of Baha'u'llah I He was chained to his Beloved, and that terrible dungeon with its awful stench of f1:ccumulating filth, its vermin, chains and threat of death, became a fragrant paradise. Baha'u'lhih Himself wrote of those hours spent with . 'Abdu'l-Vahhab in the Siyah-Chal (Black Pit) prlson: Every day Our gaolers, entering Our cell, would call the name of one of Our companions, bidding him arise and follow them to the foot of the gallows ... We were awakened one night, ere break of day, by 'Abdu'l-Vahhab, who was bound with Us to the same chains .... He asked Us whether We were awake, and proceeded to relate to Us his dream. 'I have this night,' he said, 'been soaring into a space of infinite vastness and beauty. I seemed to be uplifted on wings that carried me wherever I desired to go. A feeling of rapturous delight filled my soul. I flew in the midst of that immensity with a swiftness and ease that I cannot describe.' Baha'u'llah looked with love upon 'Abdu'l- Vahhab. He said to him: Today it will be your turn to sacrifice yourself for this Cause. May you remain firm and steadfast to the end. You will then find yourself soaring in that same limitless space of which you dreamed, traversing with the same ease and swiftness the realm of immortal sovereignty, and gazing with that same rapture upon the Infinite Horizon. Baha'u'llah's words came true. That morning when the door was opened to let a shaft of sunlight down into the deep black pit, the gaoler made his way down the steps and called out a name. "Abdu'l-Vahhib l' Baha'u'llah "\vrote of 'Abdu'l-Vahhib's joy when he heard that fatal name called out, and was freed of his chains. Baha'u'llah said: Throwing off his chains, he sprang to his feet, embraced each of his fellow-prisoners, and, taking Us into his arms, pressed Us lovingly to his heart. That moment We discovered that he had no shoes to wear. We gave him Our own, and, speaking a last word of encouragement and cheer, sent him forth to the scene of his martyrdom. Later on, his executioner came to Us, praising in glowing language the spirit which that youth had shown. 'Abdu'l-Vahhib had not only fulfilled his longing to walk in Baha'u'llah's footsteps, to share His suffering. 'Abdu'l-Vahhib had walked to his death in Baha'u'llih's very shoes. He had given up friends, fame, wealth, family, and finally life itself.

'This,' the Persian Baha'is told Lua, 'is what it means to walk in the footsteps of your Beloved.' To Lua, such a sacrifice was not a deterrent, it was a spur. The taste of affliction was as sweet as honey. She longed to share the countless agonies of Baha'u'Ilih and her beloved Master. Instead of quenching her fire, the story of 'Abdu'l-Vahhab poured oil on the flames. After all, she was a spiritual descendant of that illustrious Dawn-Breaker. If martyrdom was good enough for him, it was good enough for Lua. Lua hoped that some day, somewhere, if only in the tiniest measure, her tribulations would, as Baha'u'llah has said of His own suffering, help lift the yoke of tyranny from off the necks of men.

3 I. Lua Sees the Master for the Last Tl,ne Lua was in the Holy Land with 'Abdu'l-Bahi for seven wonderful months in 1915, during the First World War. One day 'Abdu'l-Bahi called Lua to Him. \X'ith great gentleness He told l1er that she must leave at once for America. Soon Germany would be at war with her country and she would no longer be able to receive His protection in Haifa. Lua felt a chill of premonition when she heard His . words. She knew they would never meet again. 'Abdu'l-Baha understood the anguish in Lua's heart. He softened the pain of parting by reminding her once again of her great responsibility. It was her duty to awaken a sleeping America. She must be a Herald of the Covenant of God among the people of the West. She must return to America, 'Abdu'l- Baha told her, and ceaselessly teach the Cause of God. This, 'Abdu'l-Baha said, was His dearest wish. Lua knew there was no escape from this command. It "vas for this very purpose that she had been taught and trained by the }yIaster. To \vhom much is given, from him much is expected. All of the love and the kno\vledge the Master had showered on Lua \vas not really hers at all. It belonged to those \vhom she had already taught and must yet teach. Painfully aware of her own weaknesses, Lua asked 'Abdu'l-Baha to grant her the bounty of taking upon herself the sins of her children in the Faith. Perhaps in this way she could purify herself and release them from bondage. 'Let me bear the weight of their sins,' Lua begged 'Abdu'l-Baha, 'that they may be freed of this burden and be able to teach with pure spirit.'

Lua had learned her lesson of detachment. One precious conversation with the Master would remain with her always, locked forever in her memory, words spoken to Lua and a companion before they set off on their teaching journey to India. Lua has preserved that conversation in her own pilgrim notes. 'What will you do if they dispute these teachings ?' 'Abdu'l-Baha asked Lua. 'I shall turn to 'Abdu'l-Baha and call upon Him for spiritual confirmation. After repeating the Greatest Name of Baha'u'llah, I shall open my mouth and say what is given me to say.' 'What will you do if they persecute you ?' 'I shall know it is a heavenly gift, and that the love of God is descending upon me.' 'What will you do if they put you in prison?' 'I shall thank God that I have walked in His path, and have at last been permitted to share what 'Abdu'l-Baha has suffered for years.' 'Abdu'l-Baha was silent for a moment. He asked: 'And what will you do if they kill you?' '1 shall know that the first wish that I ever asked of 'Abdu'l-Baha had been granted, and that I have been privileged to give my life that men may hear the Word of God.' Lua's eyes were filled with tears. She looked at her Beloved and said, 'And the minute my soul is freed from my body, I shall fly to God from Whom I hope I shall never be separated through all eternity.' There was a long silence. The Master's eyes were closed. At length He said: 'When one goes forth to teach, he should think of all these things. He must be prepared at all times, for whatever comes in the path of God.'

Lua clung to 'Abdu'l-Baha's hand that last day, draining courage from it. Her eyes lingered on that countenance she loved more than all else on earth. 'Abdu'l-Baha knew her heart. His eyes were especially kind that day. His words were particularly tender and loving. His smile was surpassingly sweet. Lua turned and sobbing quietly left His presence, but her heart remained. She would never again look upon that beloved face, nor hear that wondrous voice, nor drink in that matchless wisdom, nor be sheltered by the warmth of that protecting spirit. She was leaving. She was leaving her beloved 12.2. Master, never to see Him in this world again. Never again I 'Abdu'l-Baha demonstrated the confidence He had in Lua in a special Tablet [Letter] which He addressed to America. 'Abdu'l-Baha commented on Lua's successful work in India, and called upon the American Baha'is to s110w 11er their love. He wrote: 'To the beloved of God in America-On them be glory and bounty I 'The maid-servant of God, Lua, was a long time occupied in India in spreading the fragrances of the love of God. She is now ready to return to the regions of America. Show her every consideration. She is firm in the Covenant of love. In reality she \vorked vigorously during her sojourn in India, and she is worthy of love. 'Haifa, August 2.7, 1915 (signed) 'Abdu'l-Baha 'Abbas.'

Lua carried that precious Tablet with her as she hurried to her ship. She was rushing into the future, toward America, impatient to teach and teach and teach. Lua knew that this alone could help to fill the utter loneliness and hunger for the days that were never to return again.

32. War Encircles the Flame As that 'land of unfading splendour' disappeared into the haze of the sea, perhaps Lua relived her long-ago visit when she looked upon the Master 12.3 for the first time. Was it possible that it had all happened eighteen years ago? It seemed like yesterday. Prominent among her memories must have been the excitement and drama of those first Baha'i meetings in Paris which followed that pilgrimage, when 'Abdu'l-Baha had sent May Maxwell to open Europe to the Faith of Baha'u'llah. Imagine! For the first time on this planet, an entire continent was being introduced, in terms it could understand, to a Faith which was soon to encircle the world. People were being told that Christ had returned. The Promised One of all religions had appeared! These noble souls, heroines and heroes, were the forerunners in the West of a tidal wave of teaching that in little over half a century was to establish centres in some fifty thousand places in the world. Their spiritual children, and their children's children, would soon raise up over one hundred National Spiritual Assemblies representing more than three hundred countries, territories and dominions. These two partners, the communities of believers from the Cradle of the Faith in Persia and the Cradle of its Administrative Order in America, would be leaders in establishing on a local, national and international foundation the Christ-promised Kingdom of God on earth. They, with their fellow Baha'is in all lands, would participate in the first Baha'i World Convention, and the election of the Universal House of Justice, that Supreme Administrative Body called for by the Pen of Baha'u'llah Himself.

The excitement of those early days in Paris became even more enthralling when 'Abdu'l-Baha sent them one of the most gifted and brilliant teachers of the East, Mirza Abu'l-Fa<;ll. His task was to deepen and strengthen 'Abdu'l-Baha's 'western children'. This peerless messenger from 'Abdu'l-Bahi opened new horizons of understanding, and helped prepare them for their world-encircling mission of teaching. Who would have foreseen this mighty harvest during those beginning days in Paris? Lua certainly, and May Maxwell, and perhaps a handful of those other God-intoxicated teachers who made the capital city of France sing with their song of the kingdom. One can almost hear Lua, as she stands at the rail of her ship, looking back for the last time at Mount Carmel, and dreaming of those early days -the first pilgrimage; the night she told her mother about the Faith; above all, the Master's visit to America. Down the corridors of time we can hear her quietly whisper: 'Such days I Such days I' Agnes Alexander, one of only three believers to be mentioned by name in 'Abdu'l-Baha's Tablets of the Divine Plan, was there at the Paris meetings. She soon left for the Orient to ignite the light of the Baha'i Faith in Hawaii and Japan. She wrote with a special tenderness of those days of rapture: 'An atmosphere of pure light pervaded the Paris 12.5 meetings, so much so that one was transported, as it were, from the world of man to that of God.' Juliet Thompson, Lua's dear friend Julie, also attended and told of the love that bound Lua, May -all of them-together: 'That Paris group was so deeply united in love and faith-so carried away, so intoxicated "\vith love for the beloved Master; our great teac11er, 11irza Abu'l-Fagl, so heavenly wise-that those days were the days of miracle, of all but incredible confirmations. '

Who would have dreamed that in such a short time the earthly dust of the 'immortal Lua' and that of the 'illustrious' Abu'l-Fagl-they who had met each other in Paris-would lie beneath a single monument along the shores of the silver Nile in Egypt. Or, that the brilliant, eloquent child of Lua's heart and tongue, May 1faxwell, would also win a martyr's crown in far off Argentina, a country so remote from her native land. Both Lua and May, obedient to the summons of their beloved Master, 'Abdu'l-Baha, had arisen to teach the Cause of God with every breath of their lives. They had become 'pieces of iron' in 'the midst of the fire', filled with the spirit. Their candles had wept away their lives, drop by drop, and 'shed imperishable lustre' upon the American Baha'i community. 'Abdu'l-Baha was later to write: 'Among the miracles which distinguish this Dispensation is this, that women have evinced a greater 12.6 boldness than men when enlisted in the ranks of the Faith.' Both Lua and May had been privileged to return to that 'blessed spot' on a 'second visit' with their 'banners flying, like soldiers, in gladness and triumph'. They went out again into the battle for a final time, both to lay down their lives on behalf of their precious Faith so that people in all lands might kno\v about Baha'u'lhih, the Redeemer of men, the only hope for present-day society.

Such memories of the past and visions of the future must have inspired and encouraged Lua as she sailed away that final time from the land of her heart's desire, from that 'snow-white spot', that 'nest of all the Prophets of God'. Lua never reached America. She sailed from Haifa with two hundred and ninety refugees on board the United States cruiser Des Moines and finally reached Egypt via the Island of Crete. When Lua reached Egypt, she became desperately ill, and was forced to leave the ship. While she was in Egypt the war encircled her. But Lua's heart, impatient to be off this planet now that it could no longer be with the Master, braved every danger.

33. The Angel of Death Lua's sister writes the following account of those last days in Cairo, Egypt: 'There she nursed the sick and wounded with every bit of her limited strength. The soldiers 12 7 adored her and called her "the Lady in Blue".' Because of her dress. In the last years of her life, Lua always wore a simple costume, blue in colour and very conservative. 'Abdu'l-Baha had earlier suggested a more moderate dress and Lua had obeyed at once, never to change the style. A friend whom Lua had introduced to the Faith in California described Lua's ethereal look with her large blue eyes, brown hair, fair skin. The impact was softened by her temperate dress and often proved a 'safeguard to her during many hazardous experiences in many countries as she travelled in her service to the Faith'. This friend has written: 'Later in San Francisco Lua gave me a pair of long white kid gloves, the last remnant of her finery which she had enjoyed so much.' The days during which Lua had lived in both worlds were gone. For years, her heart had been anchored only in the I<ingdom.

Lua kept her failing health a secret from all. She had been violently stricken with fever while in India. This proved too much for an always frail body. Lua's strong spirit had hidden her delicate health from almost everyone throughout her life. But the Master was always aware of Lua's acute suffering. She rose above illness and pain to carry out His command to teach. At one particularly desperate time of illness in Lua's life, 'Abdu'l-Baha is reported to have said, 'I told the Angel of Death to stay away.' The fever now had greatly sapped her strength and gravely afflicted her heart. While working at intense pitch during those last hectic weeks in a world. gone mad with war, Lua contracted pneumonia. She rallied for a short while, but her spirit would not let her rest. She felt too keenly the shortness of time. She could think of but one \vord: 'Teach!' One day Lua said to some of her friends, 'I am sure that until the last days of our lives we shall be learning lessons, for this world is a school from which we graduate only when we leave it. I shall be glad when the last days come, and the school is forever (as far as I am concerned) dismissed.' Then she looked at the picture of 'Abdu'l-Baha which hung on the wall and said, 'But His will, not mine, be done: For all I ever want to do is His will and to be severed from all save God.' During those days, Lua was busily writing 'an account of my last months with 'Abdu'l-Baha'. She wrote to her fellow-Baha'is in America telling them that 'Abdu'l-Baha was well. 'Abdu'l-Baha had given Lua the assignment of carrying the latest news to the Baha'is in Africa, Europe and America. 'Now is the time,' He told her, 'for you to go and gives news to the friends in Egypt, ~urope and America. It is a long time that they are without any word, and I desire to send you to them, after which you are to go and teach.' Lua reached Egypt, was delayed by the war, so at once she began her teaching work there in Africa. She wrote to America, apologizing for her delay. 12 9 'I do not just yet know when I shall reach America,' she told them, 'as I have some work to do in France first .... '1 am sent forth again "to herald the Covenant" by its holy Centre ['Abdu'l-Baha], and I shall do it with His divine assistance better and more powerfully than I have ever done ... 'Please say to all the friends that I love them all, and I am ready to meet them in the spirit of the Center of God's holy Covenant which is naught save pure, spiritual divine love I I wish everybody success in the service of His Great Cause, and ask them to pray for me-the least and most unworthy of all His faithful servants ... 'Yours in the service and love of 'Abdu'l-Baha, (signed) Lua Port Said, Egypt Sept. 2. I, 19 1 5.'

Although her health was failing, Lua increased the tempo of her teaching activities. The poorer she felt, the more intense became her determination to serve. Lua's friends pleaded with her to rest. She smiled and said, 'The Master does not rest. He said, "Sometimes material rest can deprive us of spiritual rest.'" Late one spring day in Cairo, Lua returned to her home. She had spent many long hours instructing some students who were eager to hear more about the Baha'i Faith. Lua was very weak and tired, but in spite of this she had never looked more radiant and gay. Lua bade her friends a loving good night and went to her room. A short time later they heard a sharp cry of pain. Lua was in great anguish. Even then she thought of only one thing, 'Abdu'l-Baha. She called out loudly three times: 'God is Most Glorious I God is Most Glorious I God is Most Glorious I' This time the Angel of Death did not stay away. Lua was not quite forty-five when she died, so very young and so very beautiful.

34. 'Lua, who shall live through all the ages' Lua had written often to her dear friend 'Julie' during those last days. When Miss Thompson received word of Lua's passing it brought back memories of that joyous day long past when both she and Lua had been with 'Abdu'l-Baha in New York. She has recorded that moment for history: 'Lua knelt before 'Abdu'l-Baha and offered our lives for the Faith. "From this moment on," Lua told the Master, "Julie and I dedicate our lives to Thee. And we beg at last to die in Thy path. Don't we, Julie?'" Julie never had a chance to answer. Lua was sweeping them both onto the field of martyrdom. Lua couldn't conceive of a Baha'i who didn't long to shed that 'crimson ink' in the path of Baha'u'lhih. Juliet tells how eagerly Lua offered both their lives for the Master. , "We want to drink the cup of martyrdom. Don't we, Julie?" Before I could answer, Lua continued: "0 beloved Master, it would be so good for 13 1 the Cause of Baha'u'llih if t\VO Americans could die for the Faith! Please grant it!" She turned to me and said, "Take hold of His robe, Julie, and beseech!" 'The Master said, "Very good." But this did not satisfy Lua. "Say yes, Master!" she begged. "Oh, Julie, beg Him to say yes!" '''I accept the dedication of your lives now," 'Abdu'l-Bahi told them. "The rest will be determined later." 'Now it has been determined. 'Abdu'l-Bahi once said to me, "Lua has a tender heart." That tender heart, too anguished, suddenly ceased to beat.'

In one of the last letters she ever \vrote, Lua addressed these words to May Maxwell whom she had brought into the Faith in Paris in 1898: '''Thus let him who is in the house-top not come down, and him who is in the field not turn back." For each one must begin in whatever place he finds himself to face facts and conditions as they are, and know that the present environment is the best for his future, be it in the fields, all fresh and green, or the desert with the dreary burning sands. The final goal to be attained is "Severance from all else save God". And in His great mercy He puts each one in the place where the painful process may be quickest and best accomplished. Hence I am in Egypt, and you are among the snowdrifts of Canada ... My only hope, aim, or ambition was to go to America and to do what 'Abdu'l-Baha desired me to do. No one will ever know save Him in this world what it would have meant had I accom- 132. plished it ... It seems that God does not accept my life as a sacrifice in His path, yet I long for it with all my soul ... If I cannot attain it, all I ask is that you may all succeed where I failed.'

The link that bound Lua's heart to that of May Maxwell was unique and precious. It is small '\vonder that when the first word of Lua's death reached her, May wrote an eloquent tribute to this great Baha'i teacher and Herald of the Covenant of Baha'u'llah. 'Great and wonderful were [Lua's] qualities-in her own person she bore the sins and weaknesses of us all, and redeeming herself she redeemed us. She broke the path through the untrod forest: ... she cast her soul and body into the stream and perished making the bridge by which we cross ... The passion of Divine love that consumed her heart shall light the hearts of mankind forever and forever.' 'For hours I have seen Lua, the woman, the child,' May \vrote, 'all love and tenderness, dying far away-alone. Far from the land where she sowed the seed from the Atlantic to the Pacificfrom the land where she arose like the dawning star heralding the light of Baha'u'llah in those days when the Occident lay frozen in the grasp of materialism-and far from all those who should have loved her and cherished her as a priceless gift from God.' 'I believe,' May wrote, 'that the last time Lua left her Beloved 'Abdu'l-Baha she died to all save God and took the "step of the soul" by which the spirit of truth and reality dawned in the Cause in America.' May saw a 'victorious Lua, majestic in her deaththe Lua who shall live through all ages' and at the same time saw Lua, the woman, the eager child of the Covenant hungering for ways, however small, in which she could serve her beloved 'Abdu'l- Baha. May's pen was tender and sad as she wrote: 'I could only see her frail form, her lovely, sensitive face, her pleading child's eyes. I could only hear the cry of her soul, her yearning for sacrifice in the Path of God. Without home, money, or any earthly hope or refuge-after her years of suffering, service and sacrifice, she attained her supreme desire and lay, at last, a martyr I'

3 5· A Martyr's Crown 'Abdu'l-Baha was filled with great sorro\v when the news of Lua's death reached Him. The Master was "\valking one afternoon along the shores of the Sea of Galilee when He received the tragic 'news of the death of the beloved Lua'. One of 'Abdu'l-Baha's secretaries has recalled the deep sorrow the Master felt at the passing of this great Baha'i teacher. 'He was deeply affected,' he wrote, 'and felt more than any of us this great loss. Since that day I have heard Him more than a hundred times exclaiming with a moving voice: "What a loss! What a loss! What a loss 1'" In a letter which this same secretary of the Master sent to America it was pointed out how 'unique' a teacher Lua had been. She was one of the very earliest Baha'is in America to travel extensively and raise the call of the Kingdom. She was one of the very first pilgrims from the West to visit 'Abdu'l-Baha in 'Akka. She 'travelled throughout the continents of America, Europe, Asia and Africa to spread the Word of God.' She brought many outstanding souls into the Faith, both men and women, who themselves carried on her work with skill and enthusiasm in all parts of the world. She was the only 'believer who visited the Shah of Persia years ago in Paris and interceded' on behalf of the Baha'is in that land, as instructed by the Master, 'Abdu'l-Baha. Lua was a disciple of 'Abdu'l-Baha. She was 'taught by Him, educated by Him, and sent out by Him' to proclaim the Baha'i Faith to the world. Lua was 'one of the very few souls who visited the Holy Land seven or eight times, lived in the blessed household for months at a time, and was considered as one of the members of the holy family, one of the daughters of 'Abdu'l-Baha.' All those who knew Lua's true worth were to echo those words of the Master: 'What a loss I' 'Abdu'l-Baha cabled to her friends in America: 'The maid servant of God, Lua, enkindled with the fire of His love, has passed away. In the latter days of her life, the heart disease with which she had been afflicted became greatly aggravated.'· He prayed that God would grant the soul of Lua a palace for a home. Then 'Abdu'l-Baha called upon the American believers to rise up and follow Lua's example. He called her a 'Herald of t11e Covenant', and praised her highly for following His command to 'Go forth and proclaim this Faith'. 'Lua, that blessed leaf,' 'Abdu'l-Baha said, 'has been the cause of guidance to many a soul, for she was endowed with a heart that was attracted, a tongue that was eloquent, and she spent her time day and night teaching. At present she is calling from the Kingdom saying, "0 ye my children! Do ye know what bounty I have attained?'" When her remains were transferred to their final resting-place, the Guardian of the Baha'i Faith, Shoghi Effendi, announced to the entire Baha'i world this event, describing her in these terms: 'The immortal Lua, mother-teacher of the American Baha'i community, herald of the dawn of the Day of the Covenant ... ' And still today her voice calls out from every land. It speaks through those whose hearts were touched by her, the mother-teacher of the West. Her spiritual children, and her children's children, enkindled by her flame lift up their heads in love and delight whenever her name is spoken. They have taken up the torch and will hold it aloft enkindling new fires of teaching in every land, until the entire planet is illumined with the light of Baha'u'llah. So it is that Lua still teaches on earth through hearts which she awakened. They can hear her voice callout that echo of Tahirih: '1 am the bugle! I am the bellI' Lua, homeless on earth, now has in the world on high her 'palace'. This is the promise of her beloved Master. Silent in her shrine, her golden eloquence forever stilled on earth, Lua sleeps beneath the dust of a quiet hill in Egypt. Her simple monument looks across the silver Nile to where the setting sun disappears behind the ancient pyramids, those tombs of long-forgotten kings. Far from her native land, this restless spirit, this flame of God, the 'immortal Lua' achieved her heart's desire and won a martyr's crown.

A FINAL TRIBUTE

One hundred years ago, November 1st, 1871, that 'herald' of the Baha'i Faith, the 'immortal Lua' was born. In 1971, Baha'is throughout America and Canada honoured her memory in thanksgiving for the gift of 'life' she bestowed upon so many of them. It is only fitting that this all too inadequate account of her dramatic life should close with this final tribute from the Pen of 'Abdu'l-Baha, the Master Lua loved so dearly. The following are the ,vords of 'Abdu'l-Baha which will remain forever as the balance in which we may weigh the life of this heroine of God:

'Supplication for the attracted maid-servant of God, Lua, who ascended to the Supreme Concourse-Upon her be greeting and praise! 'He is God! '0 LordI 0 LordI Verily Thy maid-servant who was attracted with the fragrances of Thy Holiness, enkindled with the fire of Thy Love, the herald of Thy Name, the spreader of Thy Signs among Thy people, ascended to Thee with humility and lowliness, trusting in Thee with all her heart, liberated from all worldly ties and attractions, hoping for Thy Universal Favour and Mercy, desiring to 13 8 enter Thy radiant Presence, supplicating Thy allencircling Bounty, and begging for the descent of Thy glorious Bestowals! '0 LordI Exalt her station, submerge her in the ocean of Thy Compassion and establish her in the midst of the Paradise of Immortality, in the Universe of I..Jights, the Centre of the Beatific Mysteries. '0 Lord 1 She believed in Thee, chanted Thy verses, turned her face toward Thee with all her heart; her spirit was rejoiced through Thy gladtidings and her soul was purified through the fire of Thy Love. Then amidst the concourse of humanity, she arose in the promotion of Thy Word, suffered every thirsty one to drink from the goblet of Thy Guidance and healed every sick one witll the antidote of Thy Knowledge. In Thy Path she travelled to distant countries and remote regions and gave the good-news of Thy Kingdom throughout vast and spacious continents-until through the difficulties that she endured in Thy Path, her very flesh and bones were melted, diseases and sicknessses attacked her, her frail body failed her, her nerves and muscles weakened their functions and her heart became the target of conflicting ailments. Then while hoping for the immortal life, the eternal existence, she abandoned this mortal, ephemeral world. '0 Lordi Grant her a palace in the neighbourhood of Thy Most Great Mercy; cause her to dwell in the gardens of Thy paradise, the Most High; illumine her countenance with the effulgence of Thy good-pleasure, in the Kingdom of Thy Glory; usher her into the heaven of Thy Meeting and suffer her to live everlastingly in the assemblage of transfiguration, whose refulgent lights are shining upon . the world of hearts and the realm of consCl0usness. 'Verily, Thou art the Forgiving, verily Thou art the Pardoner, and verily Thou art the Merciful of the Most Merciful! '(Signed) 'Abdu'l-Baha 'Abbas.' Quotations are reproduced as in the original texts.